July 2000 - Kashima Collision

Date: Sat, 08 Jul 2000 22:50:42 -0000

From: "hall coons" <bmw535@prodigy.net>

Subject: QE2 - Kashima Collision 7-5-00

Just returned from the QE2 Tall Ships cruise. Thanks to Cornelia for tuning me into your most interesting e group. Thought I would contribute my version of the QE2 collision. 

I got up 5:30 am on July 5 to watch QE2 sail up to her dock. It was a beautiful cool sunny morning. As we approached the passenger ship docks it was interesting to see a large number of the Tall Ships docked there. In the adjoining dock to where QE2 was to berth there were four warships already docked. Nearest the end of the berth were the UK Manchester tied to the dock, and the Japanese Kashima tied to the Manchester.Behind these two were the American Dallas tied to the dock and a Canadian warship tied to the Dallas (never got the Canadian name).

The bow of the Kashima was quite far out into the water between the two berths and this was obvious even before the "crisis" began. Also the QE2 seemed to begin her docking procedure (at 7:30 am) closer to the docks then she normally would. Seems to me she should have been further out in the water, away from the piers, before she began to turn into the pier. Anyway I was standing on the forward area of the Boat Deck on QE2 right below the Bridge Wings during the docking so I saw it all first hand. 

As the pilot eased the QE2 into the dock we got closer and closer to the Kashima bow. Keep in mind that on all four warships there were very few crew out and about. I suspect they were still asleep or below decks recovering from the late night fireworks celebrations of July 4. No one believed we were going to hit the bow of the Kashima until we actually did hit it. In fact I was not sure that we had hit until after the incident. A Japanese sailor ran forward before the collision with some sort of "bumper guard" to protect the bow but he was to late. When the QE2 lightly bumped the Kashima, the Kashima pushed into the Manchester which she was tied next too. This had the effect of pushing the stern of the Manchester away from the pier. At this point the stern and midships mooring lines on the Manchester broke from the pier. They went off like fireworks. 

At this point complete pandemonium ensued. The gangway between the Kashima and Manchester fell into the water. Keep in mind they were tied together side to side. Both the Kashima and Manchester together started to drift stern first into the side of the QE2. The side of the QE2 was also moving towards them. It appeared that a much more serious collision was about to occur. The Manchester loudspeaker system announced "BRACE FOR IMMINENT COLLISION". Now the crews on all four warships rushed up on deck to see what the heck was happening. 

The Japanese crew assembled in formation on deck and raised the Japanese flag !! The British crew on the Manchester somehow got a large mooring line over to the pier. About 50 guys on the Manchester began to heave on this line in unison to pull their ship back towards the pier. The Japanese had a small launch boat tied to the side of the Kashima that was drifting into the side of QE2. It appeared that this small launch would be crushed between the two ships. A couple of Japanese sailors quickly moved the launch out of the way just in the nick of time. By now the Manchester crew was seeing some effect of their rope pulling chore and the Manchester/Kashima stopped their drift towards QE2 and slowly began to move back to the dock. 

By this time QE2 had almost pulled up to the pier and things calmed down. After everyone was docked the Japanese crew swarmed over their bow to see the damage. There was a very small indentation on the top of the bow about 2 feet long that you could see from decks of QE2. I have heard in news accounts since that the Manchester actually sustained more damage with lost/crushed deck rails and side damage. 

It was comical after it was all over, especially when the Japanese were spending time to raise their flags while the British were saving the day by pulling their ship to the pier with the rope. It was the perfect end to a great fourth of July ! I heard on the CBS evening news that night a report of the collision. The Japanese Admiral was quoted as saying " I did not mind that my warship was kissed by the Queen". Hall Coons