Master At Arms and ship's Brig (jail)

[Jem]

Often wondered as every now and then, there must have been the odd disruptive passenger?

Cheers.

[Louis De Sousa]

Often wondered as every now and then, there must have been the odd disruptive passenger?

Not only passengers but also disuptive Crew.They were called to the Crew Bar at least 2-3 a week because of fights.Onboard there was at least 6-7 Security Officers.
At nights they make the usually check routines around the ship.All over the ship there is sort of a scanner device on the Bulkheads,they have a scanner in the hand too which they have to actived over theses scanners.All the times stay registered on the scanner confirming that they have been around.

And yes there is a jail onboard.

Louis

[Jem]

Many thanks for that information, Louis

[Twynkle]

Louis

Thanks for this.

When were the scanners introduced?

Last year, in the public / passenger areas there were plenty of CCTV cameras in evidence.  

Do you know whether there was a Master at Arms on QE2?

[Louis De Sousa]

Do you know whether there was a Master at Arms on QE2?

Yes there was.

Louis

[cunardqueen]

I asked the question of the Brig a number of years ago to a retired officer who worked under Bob Vening,(he had a much less flattering name for him ) at the time of the Fast Boat to China programm.

He said that while QE2 didnt as such have a brig,they did have cabins that could be used if such events required it.

The scanner system for patrols, a similar system is used in larger hotels with various devices located throughout the building, the night watch man would turn the key so to speak  at intervals during the nght to confirm the areas had been checked. The station hotel in Inverness is one of such places

[Rod]

When Bob Venning came aboard, I believe it was early 70's, 73? he was given the job of updating QE2's security. Frankly, at the time it was a joke, and I can well imagine why some people had a different name for him. You have to remember that at that time the IRA had named QE2 as their number 1 target. It had been proven that that the QE2 had smuggled a signicicent cargo of arms to the IRA with the help of QE2 crew members.
To give you an example of QE2 Security staff in 1971. I was asked to go to a pax cabin  to assist the Chief SPO with what would now be called a "domestic disturbance"  This was a call from the night SPO CSPO turned up with one of the trapshooting shotguns! I asked him if it was loaded and he said he didn't know! The domestic distrurbance was Peter Sellers and Miranda Quarrie.....who was Cunards Chairmans daughter. Thats what security was like before Bob Venning.
On all ships those days, you could show up at the bottom of thae gangway show a photo ID and go on board for a drink!