QE2's Mooring Decks

[skilly56]

Still with machinery, but out of the engine room this time.

Normally the Mooring Decks decks are a no-go for all passengers, along with most of the crew, as when tied up in port the mooring lines have considerable tension on them, and breaking lines can take people's heads off on the recoil (Jubilee Floating Dock, Wellington, 1975?, a William Cable Ltd fitter was decapitated when a rope snapped, and it has happened in many other locations around the world).

1.0052 - shows the steps up to the cockpit - right in the bow of the ship. It is sealed with a "weathertight" door, not a watertight one.

2.0051 - A capstan - the line is wound around the capstan drum and the free end is pulled firmly by hand. By energising the electric motor driving the drum, tremendous tension can be applied to the line to pull it in, thus pulling the ship closer to the wharf.

3.0054 - No.1 Winch (one of four at fwd end of ship). Also used to apply tension to mooring ropes, and also for storing these ropes on when at sea.

4.1468 - roller fairleads - rollers on the left and right are able to rotate on bearings. As the ropes are let out, or tensioned up around the rollers, the latter are able to rotate so they do not chaff through the ropes.

5.1469 - view from the rear of the fwd mooring deck looking fwd. Note the hinged lids that drop down over the fairlead openings to prevent seawater ingress once the ship has sailed and the ropes are all inboard & stowed. Also note the large angled white pipe to the right - this is the Port Anchor hawse pipe. The anchor chain runs down inside this pipe from the windlass above.

6.1471 - view out through port, showing rope onto bollard. Note rat guard.

[skilly56]

OK, that one worked, so now for the blunt end!

7.   0082 - the aft capstan.

8.   0080 - No.7 winch aft (4 winches at this end also). This area also doubles as a crew relaxation & viewing area when not in port.

9.   0403 - 5 mooring ropes under tension in the shot - an area to be very careful!

10. 1447 - Looking across aft mooring deck.

11. 1450 - aft end of mooring deck.

12. 1448 - Fairlead view, with port grill lowered down (the grill raises up on hinges while ropes are being worked, then lowers down top reduce the size of the opening (anti-pirates). Rat guard in place again.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Excellent pictures and explanations, Skilly! So glad that you and Michael got to all these places on board and were able to take copious photographs    .

So many things that we as passengers only wondered about, but never saw... great to be able to catch up now!

[Cruise_Princess]

Just found this section ...better late than never.....and all the pics behind the scenes   

fabulous to see all the workings of such an iconic ship....she was one busy lady every day of her life.

[Rod]

Also hidden in some of these spaces were storage areas.
EG. All the spare  "china" was stored on 3 deck forward. A bottle of perfume fell through your wc in a force 9? we will go up to the pointy end in the same force 9 and try and muscle a toilet back to your cabinj where it isnt  moving up and down 30o-49 feet/wave.

[Twynkle]

The 'China' department - Spare Toilets etc
-my screen is now covered with splutter!
It's tempting to ask - however many needed replacing at sea?
Thinking of all the paraphernalia that accompanied the toilet too
unblocking, suction, dreadful mess
It must have been one-heck-of-a- job even in calm seas, never mind a force 9......
(Mods - there's a topic about the messy side of things - heading off to find it!)
 

[Rob Lightbody]

There is still a huge pile of unused toilets in wrapping on board up front, but can you believe that I didn't take a photo!?

[cunardqueen]

  There is still a huge pile of unused toilets in wrapping on board up front, but can you believe that I didn't take a photo!? 

No we dont believe you, We all know you MUST have taken such a rare and unique photo and its going into the DVD, probably towards the rear...and no bum jokes please...
And if by chance you didnt take a photo what on earth were you thinking of, perhaps you were flushed with excitement? or did you see it as a pile of ***p... next thing we will be told is there were signs up saying "to let"  
(mods please feel free to dump this message down the pan )

[Rod]

The 'China' department - Spare Toilets etc
-my screen is now covered with splutter!
It's tempting to ask - however many needed replacing at sea?
Thinking of all the paraphernalia that accompanied the toilet too
unblocking, suction, dreadful mess
It must have been one-heck-of-a- job even in calm seas, never mind a force 9......
(Mods - there's a topic about the messy side of things - heading off to find it!)
 

When you think that the QE2 was literally a floating city. The spare parts that had to be carried will stun many. It does not matter what department you are talking about. Think Deck, think Medical etc etc.

[Rod]

And, some of those toilets, basins bidets etc....had been on since Clydebank...designs had changed etc...made replacement difficult at times