QE2 Cargo Cranes

[CAP]

At the time of introduction into service QE2 had two forward cargo cranes but at the end of her service life this was down to one.  The design of the remaining crane appears different suggesting that the original two have in fact been removed.  Does anyone have anymore detail on this and when the change occurred?

[Louis De Sousa]

The Cargo Crane was removed during the 1990 Refit.About the remaining if it was still was the original i have no clue.

Here is a photo still with both cranes.

Note: Image missing

Louis

[CAP]

Thanks for the update... so from this refit she had just the one crane?

[Louis De Sousa]

Looking at photos i have i think the original Portside side crane was removed during the 1987 refit and replaced by another one.

Louis

[CAP]

I have an aerial photo unfortunately not dated, that shows her with one crane, starboardside.  It looks like it is one of the original pair.  From the image I'm looking at QE2 has the Magradome so putting it anytime between '84 & '94.  At the end of service (2008) there was still only one but portside (and different).

This suggests there were a couple of changes

[Louis De Sousa]

Thanks for the update... so from this refit she had just the one crane?

Yes only crane until 2008.

Louis

[Louis De Sousa]

First photo is from 1981 where you can see both cranes.

Note: Photos missing

Here is her after the 1987 Refit,you see only one crane but the Portside Crane is the new one it is just pushed back against the structure.


In this photo from 1991 you can see both different cranes.


Louis

[CAP]

Excellent that clears up some of my confusion.  Therefore, the crane removed during the 1990 refit was the starboardside and leaving the (newer) portside until end of service...

[Louis De Sousa]

Have to correct myself the crane was removed in 1992 not 1990. Sorry.

Louis

[CAP]

Thanks...

[Rob Lightbody]

From Warwick's book - "The crane can hold 5 tons and is used for loading provisions and stores..... The crane is a replacement and was fitted in 1987 at Bremerhaven.

[Rob Lightbody]

And here's a photo of the stub left by the starboard crane's removal

[CAP]

Thanks Rob.

With Bombay's help it looks like the original two lasted until the 1987 when the port side was replaced.  The replacement was a "single boom" whereas the originals had two booms.  The starboardside was subsequently removed in 1992 leaving the stump (as per your photo).  Sounds all a bit nerdy but I have been pulling together quick guide for dating the ship.  Useful with the myriad of photos that are about.

[Louis De Sousa]

Boston Cup we are here always to help with any information we have regarding the QE2.

Heres a shot of the QE2 in the Panama Canal, you can see clearly the 2 original forward cranes.



Louis

[CAP]

Much appreciated Louis.  Clearly shows that these are the original pair (twin boom type)

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Here is a view of the port side crane cabin in July 2008 :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2699056689/

and here is a view of much more of the same crane, including a plate with its details (which can be read in large size) :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2965354616/

[Rod]

I was in Bremmerhaven in 87 and do not recall a crane being removed.

[Michael Gallagher]

The portside crane was removed and replaced during the re-engining.

[John Grace]

The two cranes on the QE2 fore-deck were in their day state of the art electronic controlled, thyristor drive electric built by ASEA... they made twelve of these cranes.... six of the cranes were installed on each of the MV Maihar and MV Mahsud, owned by Cunard-Brocklebank, the last two on the QE.... I had the good fortune to work the Maihar before the QE2 as an electrical officer and as such was familiar with their operation and, more importantly, their failure modes.

[June Ingram]

Hi John - Can you tell us a bit about the specs for the cranes and how they worked ? Thanks, June 

[Bob van Leeuwen]

Was the QE2 used frequently to transport goods between the ports she travelled, for example when on the transatlantic run?

[Twynkle]

Hi Bob
Yes! Cars, including very expensive automobiles, animals as well as much else, including 'walking cargo' and mail!
Take a look under QE2 and Cars - Garage etc!
More here
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,4793.msg50158.html#msg50158
All the best
Rosie

[John Grace]

The QE2 cranes were made by ASEA which morphed into part of ABB... as I mentioned they only made twelve of this type.... they were all electric which was somewhat unusual as a lot of cranes favored an electro-hydraulic system of operation. Every function of the crane, slewing, luffing and hoisting was accomplished by an electric motor that was speed control through six pulse thyristor drives... all the motors and electronics were contained in a very compact steel shell, when in operation the amount of heat generated by the motors, which was naturally aspirated through a vent in the top of the crane that had to be opened every time the cranes was used (otherwise everything would get very hot and stop). The thyristor modules were remarkable robust for their time and the environment in which they worked, but, did fail occasionally.... the good thing about them and the generation of build every component was a discrete part which meant trouble shooting a problem could be accomplished on board and if spares were available, repaired. The cranes on the QE2 gave few problems, the ones installed on the Maihar and Masud often operated in stifling conditions in places like Calcutta, Aqaba, Djibouti and the like where the day-time temperatures would cook the operator in his small cab and the electronics. To work on the main motor inside the steel shell was a real pain and extremely difficult and taking it out was neigh on impossible without cutting into the structure.... they were very physically compact where ten pound of stuff was shoved into a five pound container.

[Twynkle]

The two cranes on the QE2 fore-deck were in their day state of the art electronic controlled, thyristor drive electric built by ASEA... they made twelve of these cranes.... six of the cranes were installed on each of the MV Maihar and MV Mahsud, owned by Cunard-Brocklebank, the last two on the QE.... I had the good fortune to work the Maihar before the QE2 as an electrical officer and as such was familiar with their operation and, more importantly, their failure modes.

Hi John,
It would seem that QE2 (and Cunard!) had the good fortune too!!
I'm sorry, this is the first time I've found and read your posts, (might have been "all at sea" when you arrived!) and so a very belated and warm welcome!
Hoping you won't mind a few very naive questions...Rod has already threatened to excommunicate me, at least once!
About these cranes, were they used at every turnaround - and in ports on QE2's Worldies?
I guess their maintenance, specially of the motors was challenging to say the least...

It's been interesting watching cranes quayside loading QV for her refit - being short on open decks,
she appears like the other Vista ships not to have any cranes of her own on board...

(Recently being involved in an expedition, and loading the old Aghulas with shipping containers and JCBs was 'interesting' - the ship was chosen specifically because of the long crane over the foredeck, the work went extremely well - until we realised we were short of tarps for the expedition trip starting from London and actually beginning in Antarctica!)
All the best
Rosie

[June Ingram]

Thanks, John, very much for the information about the cranes.  What was the hoisting weight of the cranes ?  June   

[Thomas Hypher]

Thomas is correct - QE2 is shown in her re-engining configuration so the images dates from 1988 as she was being re-engined during the tradaitional World Cruise time in 1987. Her Auckland - my favourite city I visited on QE2 - dates are:

9 and 10 February 1988
7 March 1989
No visit in 1990 thanks to Japanese Charter
1 February 1991
2 February 1992

And the original Royal Viking ships - Royal Viking Star, Royal Viking Sky and Royal Viking Sea - shared several different design elements to QE2 including funnel, layout, columns in main lounge. They were being designed hot on the heels of QE2 introduction so she had a big influence on their design.

Michael, I'm aware QE2 kept one of her original forward cranes (the starboard one) for a few years after 1987. Do you know when this was removed? The documentary "QE2 The Last Great Liner" shows her without it in 1994 just prior to the Project Lifestyle refit, I think it may have been removed at Blohm and Voss in Hamburg post Martha's Vineyard or when Echo engine was replaced by Son of Echo by cutting a hole in her side? After that she only had the more modern forward crane installed in 1987 (still onboard today). If we know when that was we could try to date Stewart's photo better if we can make out enough detail on her foredeck. The base of the old starboard crane is still visible onboard but unfortunately me and my Dad don't have any photos or videos showing it as it's just out of shot/frame!

[Michael Gallagher]

Thomas: the crane was removed during the re-engining and replaced with one of a different design.

[Thomas Hypher]

Thomas: the crane was removed during the re-engining and replaced with one of a different design.

I'm talking about the original starboard side crane, which remained for a few years after the re-engineing, as visible in the attached photo from her visit to Liverpool in 1990. It was gone by 1994, before the Project Lifestyle refit. I was wondering when exactly it was removed?

Photo source: http://vmf-cruiseshipsandliners.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/qe2-visit-to-liverpool-in-1990.html

Evidenced removal from this source (second attachment): http://worldshipny.com/qe2rtwc202004.shtml

Screengrabs from a YouTube upload of "QE2 The Last Great Liner" are the third and fourth attachments (the Southampton entry scenes being filmed in 1994 soon before the Project Lifestyle refit mentioned later on in the documentary).

The original port side crane was the one replaced with a new design during the re-engining and still remains onboard.


Thomas

[Thomas Hypher]

Here's a less overexposed image of that area of her foredeck (also from 1994)

Photo source: http://cruiselinehistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/49812c29170aaa5addb6e2ae3e3e8b41.jpg

[Michael Gallagher]

Sorry Thomas: My notes say that the crane was removed during the second Hamburg refit of 1992 (20 November - 12 December).

[Thomas Hypher]

Sorry Thomas: My notes say that the crane was removed during the second Hamburg refit of 1992 (20 November - 12 December).

I probably wasn't very clear in my earlier posts, you are definitely the most knowledgeable QE2 fan/person out there with your excellent written records and memory    .

Was the second Hamburg refit the one where Echo engine was replaced? I seem to remember reading "Son of Echo" wasn't ready when she had her Martha's Vineyard damage repaired - so she returned a couple/few months later as was pre-planned anyway (her bi-annual overhaul/refit - since switching from annual in the 1970s or 1980s).

[Michael Gallagher]

Yes you are correct - the Son of Echo was not ready for when QE2 was being repaired in Hamburg after her Grounding (8 September - 2 October 1992) so Cunard still had to proceed with the planned refit.