Author Topic: Alpha and Beta - QE2's Large Tenders 1983 until 1994 (Read 18123 times)

Andrew Collier · « **on:** Apr 01, 2010, 06:08 PM »

Hi Everybody,

Anybody notice anything a little unusual here?

Anybody got an explanation?!

http://www.thecaptainslog.org.uk/QE21983/111-23aw.jpg

Enjoy :-D

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #1 on:** Apr 01, 2010, 06:19 PM »

Is it running on only one prop? The beta tender appears to be missing too..?

Louis De Sousa · « **Reply #2 on:** Apr 01, 2010, 06:30 PM »

Wasnt the Tenders Beta/Alpha and the Magrodome added during the 1983 Refit? They seem to be missing here.

Louis

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #3 on:** Apr 01, 2010, 06:40 PM »

Yeah... so the tender platforms were added before the 83 refit?

Andrew Collier · « **Reply #4 on:** Apr 01, 2010, 07:07 PM »

Quote from: Rob Lightbody on Apr 01, 2010, 06:40 PM

Yeah... so the tender platforms were added before the 83 refit?

I have read many times that works on the refit were started before the ship actually arrived in Germany for the refit, but this is the first time I have seen anythign relating to the tender platforsm being added first, in text or photo, I was amazed.

Would love to se more photos of this odd little interim confirguarion, and to know when those platforsm were added, that photo is dated september 1983 so the ship must have sailed with tender platforms, but not magro dome for a few months, I want to know how I have never known this, or how no photos until have been found!

Louis De Sousa · « **Reply #5 on:** Apr 01, 2010, 07:41 PM »

Just found this photo from October 1993 where you can see the davits mounted.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24467327@N03/2354909356/

Louis

Louis De Sousa · « **Reply #6 on:** Apr 01, 2010, 07:55 PM »

She returned back to service after the Falklands in August 1982, looking at photos from then and from the 1983 WC no davits mounted.In June 1983 she was repainted to the black hull, maybe it was added then?

Andrew Collier · « **Reply #7 on:** Apr 01, 2010, 08:05 PM »

Good work Louis, that is an amazing photo!

I been looking on flickr half this evening and hadnt come across that one yet, thanks :-)

Michael Gallagher · « **Reply #8 on:** Apr 07, 2010, 09:34 AM »

Cabling and deck strengthening work was undertaken for the new tenders while QE2 was in Hong Kong in March 1983. The new davits were installed while QE2 was still in service and before she entered dry-dock. The starboard davit (for ‘Alpha’) was fitted in Southampton on 26 September 1983 with the port one (for ‘Beta’) being fitted on 8 October.

Andrew Collier · « **Reply #9 on:** Apr 09, 2010, 05:59 PM »

Awesome, thanks! it must have looked very odd between those dates with only one platform and davits added!

Now, that really would make a great photo!

Anyone?

Cheers :-D

Chris · « **Reply #10 on:** Apr 25, 2010, 11:37 AM »

Michael's knowledge of QE2 is unparalleled!

Michael Gallagher · « **Reply #11 on:** Apr 25, 2010, 11:44 AM »

Thank you Chris.

Chris · « **Reply #12 on:** Jun 10, 2010, 02:58 AM »

Does anybody know what happened to them?

Any one?

skilly56 · « **Reply #13 on:** Jun 10, 2010, 07:19 AM »

Nope! They didn't tell me where they were going!

Twynkle · « **Reply #14 on:** Jun 10, 2010, 07:34 AM »

Nope! They didn't tell me either...

Michael Gallagher · « **Reply #15 on:** Jun 10, 2010, 07:39 AM »

Alpha and Beta were sold to a new owner in Croatia and were delivered after QE2 had arrived in Hamburg in November 1994 for her Project Lifestyle refit.

Chris · « **Reply #16 on:** Jun 11, 2010, 07:19 AM »

Thanks Michael, glad they told you where they were going

Do you know if they area still there?

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 04, 2011, 09:55 PM »

When were they originally added? Was it the post-Falklands refit?

Cunarder Man · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 05, 2011, 01:15 PM »

I boarded QE2 for the first time in December 1983 after she returned from a refit in Germany - Bremerhaven I think. The new Magnadrome had been added and I'm sure Alpha & Beta were added at this point too. Here's a picture from the dockside with ? Alpha lowered.

Michael Gallagher · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 05, 2011, 04:01 PM »

Alpha and Beta were added during the 1983 refit in Bremerhaven (27 November - December). However preparatory work was undertaken as follows:

The aft deck location for the launches were strengthened and cable installation work was carried out in preparation for the installation of the davits while QE2 was in Hong Kong (13 – 16 March 1983).

The new davits were installed while QE2 was still in service and before she entered dry-dock. The starboard davit (for ‘Alpha’) was fitted in Southampton on 26 September 1983 with the port one (for ‘Beta’) being fitted on 8 October.

Cunarder Man · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 06, 2011, 09:28 AM »

Thanks 'Flagship' for the detail regarding Alpha & Beta - I will have loads of pictures to come.

Cheers. John

Chris · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 23, 2011, 11:07 PM »

Great shot, which highlights how much of the windows were covered over.

Michael perhaps will know, if that alteration was done as reinforcements for the aft davit?

Rod · « **Reply #22 on:** Jul 30, 2011, 12:02 PM »

Because I was on leave at the time I was asked to pick up Beta from its berth at Vospers and deliver it to the ship. They said we will get some people to help you at the Ocean Terminal. Yeah right!. I got in touch with the bridge via Beta's radio after waiting for about 3 hours at the Ocean Terminal, ship was late, had started raining, wind was gusting up to15 kts, steady blowing at 10. Getting dark. Eventually another Engineer jumped on to Beta and we got it hoisted. I was not a happy camper!. But the first of the new launches was brought to the QE2 by the Engineering Department.

Rod · « **Reply #23 on:** Aug 20, 2011, 07:54 PM »

When Alpha and Beta were delivered, the best Coxn's from the deck department were given training by "Tug" Wilson the Secirity Officer and certified to drive them. They could be a bit finickey so training was required. Biggest problem with them was the size of the engines that needed warming up for about 10-15 minutes before extended use. When they were dropped from the deck they often needed full power to get away from the ship, this created serious problems and they had to be sent back to Watercraft, the makers, on several occasions for repair. Sometimes you would have to explain to pax...well we cant use our super new tenders because its too rough.
I know one of them was bought by Terry Keirney, Electrical Officer and concerted to a cruise boat.

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 12, 2012, 08:42 PM »

Here's one of Alpha

216-13w by Captain Martini, on Flickr

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 12, 2012, 09:02 PM »

220-31aw by Captain Martini, on Flickr

Chris · « **Reply #26 on:** Sep 12, 2012, 08:52 PM »

Just re-reading this now as I thought I saw Alpha/Beta (or a similar design) working the tourist traffic in Venice. Interesting history they had.

Rod · « **Reply #27 on:** Sep 12, 2012, 09:52 PM »

I think you will find that it was a fairly standard watercraft design, variations of course being length, engines and seating.
Sadly, they were ordered without too much work being done on the technical specs which led to a lot of breakdowns and costly engine rebuilds!

Peter Mugridge · « **Reply #28 on:** Sep 12, 2012, 10:28 PM »

It does raise the question - what happened to them after they were removed from QE2?

Michael Gallagher · « **Reply #29 on:** Sep 13, 2012, 08:58 AM »

They were both sold to a new owner in Croatia but as to what happened to them after their 1994 removal....

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #30 on:** Sep 13, 2012, 02:24 PM »

I've seen photos of them in their new life, someone took photos of them while on holiday. Can't remember where though!

Adam Ilgin · « **Reply #31 on:** Jun 02, 2014, 11:38 PM »

I'm not sure if this topic has already been posed, but does anyone have pics of the lifeboats and/or tenders (catamarans or Alpha/Beta) because I haven't found too many photos on google images. Thanks.

~Adam

cunardqueen · « **Reply #32 on:** Jun 02, 2014, 11:43 PM »

Here are two for a start...

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #33 on:** Jun 02, 2014, 11:51 PM »

Two topics about alpha and beta but there's more in the forum of you use the search function to find them.

The QE2's Story » The ship herself » Alpha and Beta - QE2's Large Tenders fitted from 1983 until 1994

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,2071

And

The QE2's Story » Service Life (1969 - 2008) » The 1990s » What happened to the original Tenders (Not Alpha & Beta).

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,4600.0.html

Adam Ilgin · « **Reply #34 on:** Jun 03, 2014, 12:15 AM »

Thank you, Myles and Rod!

Adam Ilgin · « **Reply #35 on:** Jun 07, 2014, 03:09 AM »

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what capacity they had?

Rod · « **Reply #36 on:** Jun 07, 2014, 11:12 AM »

Supposedly 120 pax

Willum · « **Reply #37 on:** Jun 07, 2014, 01:17 PM »

Which reminds me of a ship I joined that was built in the far east, it said on the lifeboats 'Certified for 43 Parsons'

Adam Ilgin · « **Reply #38 on:** Jun 07, 2014, 03:07 PM »

Thanks, Rod. That's funny, Willum, I don't know how they could fit that many vintage Parsons steam turbines in one lifeboat.

Adam Hodson · « **Reply #39 on:** Jun 07, 2014, 10:23 PM »

Thanks for that info Rod.

Trevor Harris · « **Reply #40 on:** Aug 03, 2017, 01:12 AM »

Quote from: Rod on Jul 30, 2011, 12:02 PM

Because I was on leave at the time I was asked to pick up Beta from its berth at Vospers and deliver it to the ship. They said we will get some people to help you at the Ocean Terminal. Yeah right!. I got in touch with the bridge via Beta's radio after waiting for about 3 hours at the Ocean Terminal, ship was late, had started raining, wind was gusting up to15 kts, steady blowing at 10. Getting dark. Eventually another Engineer jumped on to Beta and we got it hoisted. I was not a happy camper!. But the first of the new launches was brought to the QE2 by the Engineering Department.

Wow

Andy Holloway · « **Reply #41 on:** Aug 03, 2017, 01:16 PM »

Ladies & Gents, PLEASE, PLEASE can we refer to the tenders by their CORRECT designations;

ALPHA & BRAVO!

They are/were on a BRITISH registered ship and in the UK the phonetic alphabet is ALPHA, BRAVO, Charlie etc etc.

BETA is the AMERICAN version - yuk!!!

Rod · « **Reply #42 on:** Aug 03, 2017, 02:39 PM »

You are correct Andy, however, the tender was named Beta.

Trevor Harris · « **Reply #43 on:** Aug 03, 2017, 06:07 PM »

Quote from: Andy Holloway on Aug 03, 2017, 01:16 PM

BETA is the AMERICAN version - yuk!!!

We sometimes use bravo. Nothing wrong with Beta.

Trevor Harris · « **Reply #44 on:** Dec 22, 2017, 11:48 PM »

Sognefjord, Norway - 131-35a by Captain Martini, on Flickr

Found a great picture of alpha.

Andy Holloway · « **Reply #45 on:** Dec 23, 2017, 02:40 PM »

Quote from: Trevor Casey on Dec 22, 2017, 11:48 PM

Sognefjord, Norway - 131-35a by Captain Martini, on Flickr

Found a great picture of alpha.

Take that photo 20/25 years later and it would have been completely different with regards to the crew. Firstly they would have been Filipino instead of NUS Brits - no bad thing - also, they'd have been wearing hard hats and life jackets & there would only have been essential personnel onboard the tender, nobody just there for 'the pose'!

Chris Thompson · « **Reply #46 on:** Dec 23, 2017, 09:23 PM »

What happened to these when they were removed, I did find that one is in commercial use in Ireland, where is the other???

Thomas Hypher · « **Reply #47 on:** Dec 23, 2017, 09:34 PM »

Quote from: CasinoChris on Dec 23, 2017, 09:23 PM

What happened to these when they were removed, I did find that one is in commercial use in Ireland, where is the other???

I read elsewhere on the forum (Michael or Rod) that one was sold for commercial use in Croatia, I think.

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Author Topic: Alpha and Beta - QE2's Large Tenders 1983 until 1994 (Read 18123 times)