Crash with pier at Cherbourg (27/10/1974) & dry dock in Rotterdam

[down under Charles]

Hi there all. Now that you know a little about me i can recall som stories from my time on the QE2,we were once docked in Cherbourgh and on departure due to a huge storm the ship was actualy blown away from its moorings and crashed into the opposite pier so she sustained a large gash and could not continue,we had to stay in Cherbourgh with all the passengers for a few days untill the damage was temporarily repaired,before continuing on to NY.
Another time the ship was scheduled for drydocking at Wilton Feynoord in Rotterdam  as i am a born Dutchie it was the weirdest experience to sail up the new Waterway at hook of Holland on this huge ship as i believe she had never been to Rotterdam before,unfortunately i was assigned nightwatch duties and could not leave the ship imediately to go and vist my family who at the time lived in The Hague only 30 min by train,but after a lot of begging and explaining the situation i was allowed to leave the ship and go home for a week.I was also allowed to bring my family back on board to show them around,but the security was very strict at the time being in drydock.
The ship sailed out of the New Waterway late at night after having been in the drydock for almost 2 weeks  and arrived in Southampton early the next morning .
What an experience
Charles

[ship pro]

During the storm whilst trying to dock the ship at Cherbourg, they managed to get a couple of ropes attached to the dock, then one of the ships ropes broke and unfortunately cut off one of the dockers legs.

[CAP]

I believe the damage also extended to a number of passenger and crew cabins.  I seem to remember that part of this collateral damage was caused by the severing of the water sprinkler pipes.

[Rod]

As for Cherbourg, it was departure not arrival, Captain decided to sail despite severe winds, He had a schedule. Unfortunately, the Tannoy he made to the pax put paid to his career!

[Peter Mugridge]

May I ask what was said over the tannoy?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

In order to include this in the QE2 timeline, could anyone remember when this horrific incident took place?

[Rod]

May I ask what was said over the tannoy?

He said something to the effect of: Well even if the line hadn't broken we wouldnt have saild anyway... Then why did he have the lines let go?
It was Mortemir Heir BTW for the time line.

[Twynkle]

In order to include this in the QE2 timeline, could anyone remember when this horrific incident took place?

Cherbourg incident: 27.10 1974

With Thanks to Flagship

......
•   After QE2 had struck the quay in Cherbourg on 27 October temporary repairs to the gash in the ship’s side had been made by the French navy. Now, permanent repairs were undertaken and further shell dents found below the waterline that had been discovered in Rotterdam were repaired and crew and passenger cabins damaged in the collision received attention.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Well spotted, Rosie -- thank you!

[baltaogc]

I was on it. There was a gash in the aft section close to the water line. There was an elevator for goods and the water was pouring in from it to the crew quarters aft. Panic stations by the deck hands who made us feel slightly that this was a "Titanic" style event. I remember one decky carrying a crow bar and rushing around , waving it at guys who were taking the mickey and laughing at him. We were told and then forcefully pushed (as many didn't take it seriously..we were in Port) to move from quarters to higher decks so we mostly went up to the Pig and Whistle or the crew mess where we were updated until we were told that we could return to cabins after quite a few hours or even the next early morning. Saw the repairs..looked like large quadrangle steel plates welded 'band aid" style .

[David Risley]

I also remember this incident, it was as the ship was departing Cherbourg, she was being manouvred from the dockside, under the Pilots control when a broadside wind pushed her back onto the quayside causing about a 70 foot rent along the port side aft. The gash was almost a straight line about 15 feet above the water line. The damage internally was quite extensive i heard but as i was cabined forward in the Bell Boy quarters and did not get down that end very often. The time scale is a blur now but i remember being amazed how quickly the rent was patched over with huge steel plates welded on the outer hull covering the gash i seem to think we were were underway within about 6 hours and refurbishing work continued internally as we carried on our schedule.

[Alan Snelson]

Hello David and welcome to the forum.

It would be great to hear more from you about your time on board and your memories from QE2. We have an introductions section where other crewmembers have told us a little about when they were there and what they did on board, You have probably already looked at the introductions section but if not, click on the link below and check it out, you might come across someone you knew back then.

QE2 Officers & Crew & Workers Introductions

Enjoy finding your way around the forum and if there is anything you want to ask please feel free to get in touch.

[baltaogc]

I also remember this incident, it was as the ship was departing Cherbourg, she was being manouvred from the dockside, under the Pilots control when a broadside wind pushed her back onto the quayside causing about a 70 foot rent along the port side aft. The gash was almost a straight line about 15 feet above the water line. The damage internally was quite extensive i heard but as i was cabined forward in the Bell Boy quarters and did not get down that end very often. The time scale is a blur now but i remember being amazed how quickly the rent was patched over with huge steel plates welded on the outer hull covering the gash i seem to think we were were underway within about 6 hours and refurbishing work continued internally as we carried on our schedule.

Hi David. It took about 24hrs +  for the patches to be welded before we sailed and I think we had 2 extra nights in Cherbourg. The 1st night they could not assess the damage until the morning due to the storm and the dark and repairs started about noon the following day. The 2nd night we went out and found a strange Casino with just 1 table of french roulette (as there's really not much nightlife in that place)and we sailed either the next day or the one after that.

[June Ingram]

Thank you very much, Gary, for this additional information.

[Rod]

Here is a pic I just found!

[June Ingram]

Hi Rod - Thanks very much for posting the picture !  Incredible !!  June

[Rod]

Another pic

[Bob C.]

Ouch!  Too big for a bandaid...

[Boris]

...  one of the ships ropes broke and unfortunately cut off one of the dockers legs.

That's correct, the line parted and one of the linesmen lost his legs. But we were also told another was decapitated by the whiplash. 

[Boris]

I was Night Boss during this incident. I was in the Cinema prior to commencing work and felt a slight jolt ... barely perceptible. But it's strange how you pick up on any change to normal ship sounds, vibration and general rhythm. I left the Cinema and contacted the switchboard who advised me of the flood in the crew accommodation aft. I immediately headed there and recall that the Crew Accommodation Officer (Paul Stevens??) was dashing around with several Glory Hole Stewards trying to stem the flow of water cascading down the stairwells and the alleyways - using blankets, towels, pillows and anything they could lay their hands on (the water was gushing out of the severed pipes, not seawater - though, unfortunately some of it was raw sewage). Eventually the Engineers isolated the damaged pipes and then the clean up started; using members of the Day Gang and, after 2100, the Night Gang.