After 40 years at sea, QE2 sails off to become a retail destination
in Dubai
Record-breaking Cunard liner to be moored off huge artificial island
Maev Kennedy and Mark Milner
Tuesday June 19, 2007
Time and commerce have done for the QE2, the last survivor of the era
when luxury passenger liners looked like ships and not like floating
apartment blocks.
The ship, which has carried more than 2.5 million passengers since it
was launched by the Queen on the Clyde in 1967 - making it the
longest-serving in the history of the Cunard line - has been sold to
Dubai for £50m.
It will be moored off the Middle East coast as a hotel, shops, and a
museum of its own glamorous history.
The QE2 has been a record breaker both for speed and endurance, but
after 40 years and 5.5m miles, keeping it at sea for much longer would
have started to cost serious money.
Historic ships experts yesterday thought Cunard had got a remarkably
good price, given that much more money will now have to be spent after
the new owners promised to restore the original glamorous interiors,
which are a hymn to the swinging 60s, decked out in plastic,
brightly-coloured leather, and a bar with a scarlet baby grand piano.
Cunard is selling to Istithmar, the investment arm of Dubai World, owned
by the government of Dubai. In 2009 the QE2 will become a floating
"hotel, retail and entertainment destination" at the Palm Jumeirah, the
enormous palm-shaped artificial island being developed as a complex of
tourist hotels and apartments, also by Dubai World.
Its chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, said: "She is coming to a home
where she will be cherished."
Carol Marlow, president of Cunard, said yesterday: "We are delighted
that when her legendary career as an ocean liner ends, there will
continue be a permanent home for her that will enable future generations
to continue to experience fully both the ship and her history."
Over 40 years the QE2's passengers have included most of the crowned
heads of Europe, politicians including Lady Thatcher and Nelson Mandela,
astronaut Buzz Aldrin and explorer Sir John Blashford-Snell, stars
including Vera Lynn, most of the Beatles individually, Mick Jagger and
David Bowie.
The 40th anniversary cruise in September, back to the Clyde where the
ship was built - now almost empty of shipping - was already sold out,
but tickets will now be snapped up for all its remaining voyages. "She
was a wonderful thing, marvellously ship-like, beautiful sweeping line,"
said Martyn Heighton, director of National Historic Ships, the
organisation which compiles the register of the national collection of
important old ships. "But at 40, she really was getting on a bit.
Basically ships only have 30 years in them, whether they're a modern
passenger ship or a timber warship - after that keeping them going gets
very, very expensive."
Dubai World also includes Dubai Ports World, the company which won a bid
battle last year for control of the British company P&O, which operated
almost 30 ports around the world. DPW paid £3.9bn for the 165-year-old
P&O but the takeover ran into a storm of political protest in the US,
where it was claimed the sale of terminals at six US ports, including
New York, could have national security implications. Amid calls for the
deal to be blocked, the US federal government gave Dubai's acquisition
of P&O its blessing. But in response to the opposition DWP agreed to
sell the US operations to an American company in a hastily arranged
deal.
Yesterday Sultan bin Sulayem said that as a maritime nation Dubai
understood the importance of the ship. "QE2 is without a doubt one of
the wonders of the maritime world, and is easily the most famous serving
liner in the world today. I am delighted we will be able to create a
home for her on the newest wonder of the world, the Palm Jumeirah."
While the vessel will doubtless be magnificently restored, one feature
will have to go - the Player's Club casino falls foul of Dubai's strict
anti-gambling laws.
The hot, dry climate should help in the long-term preservation of the
ship, Mr Heighton said. "I never actually sailed on her," he added
sadly. "But I did once wave to her as she came into port."
Timeline
September 1967 The 70,000-tonne ship is officially launched at
John Brown Shipyard on the Clyde by the Queen.
April 1969 Maiden voyage to Las Palmas. QE2 goes on to cross
Atlantic 800 times, and circumnavigate globe 24 times.
January 1971 Rescues 500 passengers from burning French ship
Antilles.
May 1982 Sets out for South Atlantic in May carrying 3,000
troops, and 650 volunteer crew, returning safely to Southampton the
following month.
1986 Steam turbine engines replaced with diesel.
1990 QE2 sets diesel-engined record for fastest Atlantic
crossing: four days, six hours and 57 minutes.
April 1992 Extensive repairs after hitting rocks off
Massachusetts.
September 1995 Survives 95ft wave during Hurricane Luis.
2004 New 150,000-tonne Queen Mary 2 takes over as Cunard
flagship.
September 2007 The 40th anniversary cruise from Southampton to
the Clyde is already fully booked, with tickets starting at £1,069.
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