QE2 under the flag of Vanuatu : Why etc.

[Rob Lightbody]

Source for this information is www.TheQE2Story.com/Forum.  

• QE2 is no longer owned by a British company, and hence cannot be registered under the maritime flag state of UK, this is the law.
   
• This means Southampton can no longer be shown on her stern as it is no longer her home port.
   
• Vanuatu is one of a few convenience flags who would be willing to register a 40 yo old ship (limit is normally 20 years) which is not SOLAS 2010 compliant and stay within the boundaries of maritime law.
  
  
• Port Vila is the home port of Vanuatu flagged ships, and hence this will be painted on her stern
  
  
• Callsigns are assigned by flag state, so it will change, as will a number of other radio related items.
  
  

[ancoaster78]

These legalities can't be helped, glad they've found somewhere suitable to register it to allow the trip to go ahead!

Just hope they put the new port of registry on the stern in the same style of font that Southampton was written in so it looks like its meant to be there!

Shame it couldn't have stayed UK registered, but there is good reason for that, seeing as thats not a possibility, good for Nakheel for finding Vanuatu, somewhere that will actually accept the ship and make the trip to SA possible!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Looks to me like she will be ready to take to the seas quite soon!

If this is what it takes, it will not be a huge price to pay in order to see her out on the ocean again... and to go looking for her in an accessible place... and find her in the form in which we know and love her.

Looking forward to seeing the webcam when it is ready -- which will hopefully say "Queen Elizabeth 2" -- and to following her on that amazing journey we never thought she would be making...

We have travelled far with QE2 over the past few months -- what a story it has already become...

[Andy F]

Hmm, interesting and thanks Rob.  Not sure they are totally correct in saying that the nationality of the owner determines the country of registry.  While registrations can only be made by British/EU registered companies or citizens or those from British Overseas Territories for example, this can be overcome by an individual resident in the UK (any volunteers?) or a company incorporated within the EU territory.  It follows therefore, that if NH had a UK office for example then they could feasibly apply for UK registration.  The problem would arise with the ship not being in UK waters to inspect (hmm, methinks there's a possible solution there also)  Agree however, the port of registry and the name on the stern must be one and the same and the callsign must relate to the country of registration.

That said, while obviously it would have been great to have retained the Southampton name, does it really matter as this would have been purely for nostalgic reasons? The fact she is about to embark on a journey none of us ever thought possible is what excites us the most.  Sad as it is to lose this tie with the UK, we still have our ship and that's the most important thing.

Just thinking aloud here but if/when she should finally return to a permanent mooring in Dubai, maybe NH might wish to consider returning Southampton to her stern?

[Blue Bombay]

What a shame 

Louis

[ancoaster78]

Hmm, interesting and thanks Rob.  Not sure they are totally correct in saying that the nationality of the owner determines the country of registry.  While registrations can only be made by British/EU registered companies or citizens or those from British Overseas Territories for example, this can be overcome by an individual resident in the UK (any volunteers?) or a company incorporated within the EU territory.  It follows therefore, that if NH had a UK office for example then they could feasibly apply for UK registration.  The problem would arise with the ship not being in UK waters to inspect (hmm, methinks there's a possible solution there also)

I believe the reason they can't do this Andy is because the ship is not SOLAS 2010 compliant. If it was, then it would have been easy to set up a UK company to own the ship legally, the SA trip will take in through 2010 so they need registry that covers the whole period....

[Rob Lightbody]

What's the closest QE2 ever got to Vanuatu?

[Waverley]

The new flag



http://www.cpi.com.vu/yacht_and_ship_registration_services.html

[Jem]

Sorry to see the Red Duster gone and Southampton from her stern
Delighted to think she'll once again be at sea, which we never thought would happen again
Dare I say this?? Thank you to the economic crash for making it all possible

Cheers

[Concorde_QE2]

What a shame 
Louis

I agree with you Louis. What a shame. Tragic.
I have sailed all over these South Pacific Islands.
Vanuatu is everything the QE2 was not. I will not call them names.

Seeing Queen Elizabeth 2 with Port Vila on her stern does not look right - at all.
I will burst into tears if I see this name written on her.

They had other places where they could have registered the ship.
They could have registered Monaco or The Cayman Islands.


I am located in Monaco where the world's biggest yachts are with all the world's most famous cruise ships docking here all the time. This is the QE2 we are talking about. V.Ships would  have made the proper arrangements only that Nakheel would have had to pay the price.

Nakheel/QE2Enterprises must be dead broke to have registered such a glorious Ship in Vanuatu.

Remember she is a historical ship. She served in the Falklands war.
You all seem to forget this which is the most important point of her glorious career.

Shame. Shame. Shame.   

[Twynkle]

Vanuatu is a Good Place!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A Plea to Nakheel -  Please may Queen Elizabeth 2 retain her other famous name, this is her call sign?  GBTT     
This would be very good indeed too!                                                                                                         
Thank you.

[ancoaster78]

Sadly Rosie that won't be possible, call signs are issued according to the State of Registry of the ship, GBTT is a British call sign, it has had to change to a Vanuatuan one, YJVW6 according to Maritime Matters, pity, but at least it means the ship stays in service....

Maybe those to whom this choice of registry is a big disapointment could take some comfort in the Vanuatu's close historical connections with the UK, and the fact it remains part of the British Commonwealth?

[Rob Lightbody]

She's over 40 years old, non SOLAS compliant (soon - i.e. for the period she would be getting certified & flagged for) and as we all know from being on board, showing her age in places - this seems to be the crux of the matter.  Its not EASY to get her flagged somewhere "nice" because its the famous QE2, its HARD !  If thats what it takes for her to escape Port Rashid, its OK with me!

I'm interested you pick out the Falklands as the defining moment in the ship's career - I don't think I do... the far more interesting story for me is her original mould-breaking design, how she succeded where other ships failed, beat all the odds, survived, was rebuilt, and then clocked up an insanely huge mileage never to be bettered !  However maybe we need a "what makes her historic" topic elsewhere?  Feel free to start one!

Nakheel must be dead broke?  How much do you think its cost to keep her running and crewed since November with no fee paying passengers?  And the dry docking, which looks pretty thorough to me!  Maybe someone on here with knowledge of other ships could hazard a guess at the cost of dry-docking and re-painting QE2 last month!

This time last year I'd got off QE2 for the last time, and was certain she'd be 'internally demolished' by now, with her engines and funnel sitting on the Quayside.  Anything that wards off that time...

[Concorde_QE2]

Nakheel must be dead broke?  How much do you think its cost to keep her running and crewed since November with no fee paying passengers?  And the dry docking, which looks pretty thorough to me!  Maybe someone on here with knowledge of other ships could hazard a guess at the cost of dry-docking and re-painting QE2 last month!

I don't know if you are aware of this but Nakheel is not only about the QE2.
They have all kinds of megalomaniac plans that have now been "postponed" which I see as a politically correct way for saying "scrapped".

Oh they would buy off the whole world and even the Moon and move it all to Dubai if you listen to them!!!  

I think the least they could do to retain their credibility with the QE2 was to give her a good repaint job in their own ship yard dry dock -- it all belongs to the same Sheikhs family who are owning most everything in Dubai in the western world they are called "oligarchs" with the work being done by over-exploited workers from the Indian subcontinent... so I guess it did not cost them that much.

http://www.ameinfo.com/181058.html

Construction work on the Nakheel Tower in Dubai - designed to be the world's tallest when completed - has been halted for a year, The National has reported. The tower is to be the centrepiece of a 270-hectare marina development called Nakheel Harbour and Tower near Ibn Battuta Mall and the Arabian Canal. The stalling of the tower is the latest in a string of delays on Nakheel's most prominent projects. Other developments that have been affected include the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Frond N villas, and Gateway Towers, as well as parts of the Waterfront and Palm Deira.

 

[Chris]

Maybe someone on here with knowledge of other ships could hazard a guess at the cost of dry-docking and re-painting QE2 last month!

Flagship could tell us

[Rob Lightbody]

so I guess it did not cost them that much.

Ah yes, fair point, but it would cost someone else a lot* to do what they did last month, and have been doing.

* understatement...

[stowaway2k]

On the upside...

QE2 is no stranger to the South Pacific... and the island nation of Vanuatu was formerly known as New Hebrides... the Hebrides being the string of islands off the west coast of Scotland.
 

[pjswansea]

Why was she not registered as a UAE vessel?

[Rob Lightbody]

Press Release from Nakheel

A Nakheel Spokesperson said:

***BEGINS***

Dubai: 27 August 2009.

Looking magnificent in her freshly painted livery and tidy waterline, QE2 left the Drydocks World Dubai ship yard at 10.30am, Saturday 22 August 2009 in preparation for sea trials. QE2 has been temporarily registered in Vanuatu, a member nation of both the United Nations and the British Commonwealth.  Although she will no longer be taking passengers or operating as a cruise ship, the registration documents will state her class as being ‘a passenger/cruise ship’.  To conform to international law the name ‘Southampton’ has been painted over on the Stern, although the letters remain attached and her temporary home port of Port Vila has now been painted underneath. To comply with the terms of the sale contract, the Cunard brand has been removed from the side of the ship. The Cunard letters are being preserved and kept safe and will be on display at the QE2 museum when it opens.

[Rob Lightbody]

BBC News, including 2 links to the forum

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8225638.stm

I spoke to Paul Clifton about it.

[mickey g]

Having just seen the Port-Vila news on BBC South and having read the previous comments, let's just be pleased for the great lady and indeed Nakheel for getting her to look so good again.

Due to the global financial recession Nakheel could well have had her broken up, full marks to them for seeking alternative employment for her.

Finally Rob, congratulations for this brilliant site and, even more important, keeping the site on an even keel. As we all know there are people who let their fantasies take over realism, you are indeed a moderator who is keeping this site well and truly within the realms of common sense and, I hope, commanding the respect of externally interested parties.

[highlander0108]

BBC News, including 2 links to the forum

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8225638.stm

I spoke to Paul Clifton about it.

Excellent that Southampton was not removed, but rather painted over.  As I suspected, removing the letters would have been much more involved since they're weled on the plating.  Thanks Rob for the link and your efforts. 

[Andy F]

They had other places where they could have registered the ship. They could have registered Monaco or The Cayman Islands.

Fair point and yes they could have chosen others but whatever they decided would have courted controversy.  The fact remains  she is their ship and they can do with her as they wish (within reason).  Sure I'd have loved her to continue carrying the name of Southampton but while sadly this wasn't to be, it's the ship rather than what's painted on the stern that matters!  

[ancoaster78]

Why was she not registered as a UAE vessel?

It must be the case that UAE would not accept the ship as is, ie non-SOLAS 2010 any more than any other major maritime nation, otherwise surely this would have been the first choice for its Dubai owners to consider?

[hollihedge]

I bet she absolutely loved getting out to do her sea trials!

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

it's the ship rather than what's painted on the stern that matters!

Is it? I think that it's the memory of what she was rather than what she became that matters. In her latter years the QE2 had lost a great part of what made her QE2 but there was still sufficient remaining for her to be special to us. I am NOT saying that having Southampton painted on the stern was THE thing that made her QE2 but that it is just another part of the entirety of QE2 that has now gone.

[Andy F]

Agreed Malcolm but my point was that without the ship, there would be no memories.  Yes the 2 (3 if you include the CUNARD name) go hand in hand and like most, I hoped they would stay together but irrespective of what's on her stern or the flag she flies, the ship that was the source of our collective memories remains.  She may not be quite the same admittedly but then again, she ceased to be that last November. 

[Chris]

QE2's AIS tracker is showing her new flag now!

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=576059000

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

QE2's AIS tracker is showing her new flag now!

But still the old call sign. I wonder why

[Kathy M.]

I noticed that about the call sign also . . .

[Rob Lightbody]

Image of new stern lettering for Port Vila :

http://www.maritimematters.com/shipnews.html

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Looking back at our messages, 19 August seems to have been the day she moved back to Port Rashid, where this picture must have been taken on the same day.

Good to see that "Southampton" remains clearly visible, and that Port Vila is painted on in the same font, as far as I can make out. Well, I wonder what she has been doing since then...?

[Blue Bombay]

My heart just stopped.Very sad to see that.    i have a bad feeling about all this.
For a ship that was in dry dock that aft end looks a bit tacky, doesnt it ?

Louis

[Chris]

Yikes! That looks very different!

It's a very low quality photo I think. That's what makes her look scruffy - the image is pixelated.

[Mr B]

The rat guards are all missing from her stern lines too...

 

[Rob Lightbody]

The rat guards are all missing from her stern lines too...

 

Yeah I noticed that.  Do they have rat guards in Dubai though?  Isn't it just too hot and dry for them ?

[Mr B]

Oh they do have rats there too I can assure you !

The rat guards were part of her equipment.

[Rob Lightbody]

   what I meant to ask was, do they have rats there!  Its probably a very stupid question indeed...

[Mr B]

Hee hee,

...you figured out where I was going with that I see !!

*laughs*

[Rob Lightbody]

OK having read this - http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/05/10/10124217.html - then yes, I feel that they should fit her rat guards, pronto!!

[Twynkle]

Hello!

The picture of her stern (Maritime Matters) show some slack lines too,
as well as the absence of rat guards!

[Andy F]

For a ship that was in dry dock that aft end looks a bit tacky, doesnt it ?

The boot topping looks a little odd also.  I know it doesn't take long for rus to show through but I'd have expected this to appear brighter having just been re-painted.  

[ancoaster78]

Well, it looks a bit odd being so much lower than Southampton, but it does the right style of lettering, Helvetica, and it would have looked tacky if painted over the top of the word Southampton so I think its as good as it can be, certainly not shocked by the photo, and relieved to see they correctly used capital letters too!

As for the condition, I agree that this is probally due to the poor quality of the image, it does look very pixelated and the lines seem to almost merge with the hull making it look rusty....

....as for the boot topping, same problem I think, couple with a lot of shadow down there in this shot. I would genuinly be amazed if the stern of the ship is anything less than as immaculate as we saw the bow to be in the dry dock photos, it would just make no sense to only do part of the ship well!!

[Kathy M.]

What do the rat guards look like - someone will have to point out a photo with them in it - I assume they are something that keeps the rats from climbing the ropes onto the ship (just the thought makes me shudder!!)

[Rob Lightbody]

What do the rat guards look like - someone will have to point out a photo with them in it - I assume they are something that keeps the rats from climbing the ropes onto the ship (just the thought makes me shudder!!)

Image attached Kathy!  The yellow things!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Here you are, Kate :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3535807428/

[savoia]

Source for this information is www.TheQE2Story.com/Forum.  

• Vanuatu is one of a few convenience flags who would be willing to register a 40 yo old ship (limit is normally 20 years) which is not SOLAS 2010 compliant and stay within the boundaries of maritime law.
  

Looking at her new homeport painted on her stern it reminds when Richard Hadley ordered "NEW YORK" painted off the SS United States and a staff member was sent over the sidevia a rope chair and painted "SEATTLE" in a childlike manner across her stern. Fortunatly time and cheap black covering paint made her original port visible again. I'd think Nahkeel could have done a better job than what they did...extremely sloppy.[/list]

[usqe2fan]

+ 1 on the lack of rat guards, I do recall they were present prior to the move to drydock, which makes one wonder a little about the capabilities of the present crew..

Also, perhaps a bad picture, but the rear hull does not look to have been painted as the front starboard side obviously had been in the drydock photos.  It also looks like some of the "caging" at the aft end has been damaged/bent, and there also appears to be some posible damage to the aft railing on one deck?  The more I look at it I hope it is just a bad photo.  Perhaps we can get some more better pictures, this one has me a bit worried.

Hoping for more good QE2 news as in she has been cleared to depart for Capetown soon!  If anyone is at Nakheel is listening I am available to join her as a non paying volunteer for the voyage. I have the time; so please email me at kelerik1@aol.com if you are seeking anyone to come aboard.

 

[Chris]

A few other news sites have reported on the Port Vila change - all based on the original BBC article:

http://www.wave105.com/Article.asp?id=1475191&spid=25629
http://www.newstin.co.uk/related.a?edition=uk&group_id=en-010-017720936&similarFilter=ALL
http://allaboutcunard.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html

[Mauretania1907]

Port Vila, Vanuatu, is a sight better than other possible registries of convenience. Altho its strnge to see such an iconic ship registered there, I am glad to see her still alive and kicking.

[Rob Lightbody]

For a ship that was in dry dock that aft end looks a bit tacky, doesnt it ?

The boot topping looks a little odd also.  I know it doesn't take long for rus to show through but I'd have expected this to appear brighter having just been re-painted. 

I'd think Nahkeel could have done a better job than what they did...extremely sloppy.[/list]

Perhaps we can get some more better pictures, this one has me a bit worried. 

I think they must be despairing reading this lot on here.  We had "exclusive" dry dock images a couple of weeks back - remember? - http://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,872.msg9235.html#msg9235 - in which she clearly looks absolutely gorgeous, as QE2DXB said. 

I think it would only be fair if we started giving them the benefit of the doubt, rather than always assuming the worst, or maybe they'll give up!

[Chris]

Rob, I tend to agree re: the benefit of the doubt.

As I've mentioned previously, so long as QE2 is being preserved in a respectful way and treasured as the iconic vessel that she is, her owners have my support!

Chris.

[Andy F]

I agree she is being looked after but was merely expressing a view about the boot topping, nothing more!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

We had "exclusive" dry dock images a couple of weeks back - remember? - http://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,872.msg9235.html#msg9235 - in which she clearly looks absolutely gorgeous, as QE2DXB said. 

It would be very helpful if we could get the authenticity of the new photo confirmed by QE2DBX... and perhaps a few others added too?

With thanks for keeping us up to date, as our hopes rise to see QE2 for ourselves again soon!

[Chris]

It will be wonderful, absolutely wonderful, to see QE2 sailing into Cape Town.

If only we could all be there!!

[MrT]

About this time last year we were in Palermo and her stern was not looking too smart then to put it mildly and none of us complained so I think it's a sure thing that the exterior condition of QE2 has IMPROVED over that period, which is great news.

Bit weird it is all so cloak and dagger though, if I were soon needing to fill a hotel of QE2's size anywhere in the world I'd be thinking about doing a bit of marketing, maybe tellng a few folk when we were opening, that kind of thing...I'd hate to see all this fail due to lack of communication.

Wonder if V ships re-hired any QE2 engineers, a few last year said they's been approched, whatever they seem to have got the hang of how she works.

Can't wait to get on board again now...

Alex.

[citrail]

Do you think this "cloak and dagger" stuff might have something to do with getting this QE2 sized hotel to it's destination safely, avoiding pirates?

[Twynkle]

It would seem that QE2's new owners are being cautious in their releasing of information, perhaps because it wouldn't be in our,  or QE2's, or indeed Nakheel's best interest for information to be published, before QE2 is ready ( in every sense of the word) to leave her quay in Mina Rashid.
Maybe we won't know anything certain for weeks yet - however, it would be very good indeed if we did!

As a seaworthy vessel, QE2 will be subject to specific legal and insurance matters, as well as SOLAS and a multitude of marine-related requirements. 
These inevitably will be complex and probably difficult to achieve.

I would guess that information regarding QE2's future, both immediate, and longer term may well depend on the success (or otherwise) of sea trials that will be necessary prior to her going anywhere.   

There are some that doubt that QE2's future is viable
To her owners, her insurers and all others involved,
please may I ask that you will do your absolute utmost to keep QE2 safe, secure and successful.
 


(keeping my head down here, just in case this blog below has already been posted elsewhere!
Not too sure why some would think that QE2 will be actually residing in Port Vila...)
http://cunardqueens.wordpress.com/

[QE2 DXB]

Morning all,

Based on the amount of mooring ropes and other pieces of junk laying around, I believe that low resolution photograph is taken at a temporary lay-by berth inside the ship yard whilst she was being moved around, hence the lack of rat guards. This is not Port Rashid.

QE2DXB

[Matt]

Morning all,

Based on the amount of mooring ropes and other pieces of junk laying around, I believe that low resolution photograph is taken at a temporary lay-by berth inside the ship yard whilst she was being moved around, hence the lack of rat guards. This is not Port Rashid.

QE2DXB

Interesting! Thanks alot for the Information! Would you happen to have anything that you could let us know regarding the QE2. Anything would be great, and im sure everyone agrees!

Thanks again, Matt.