Author Topic: GBTT (used until 24th October 2011) then ZCEF2 (Read 4862 times)

QueensFan · « **on:** Sep 10, 2010, 12:55 AM »

Just following a thought of how further QE2 would be represented on QE(II)...I googled good ol' GBTT...the radio code of QE2 and Queen Mary. I get this page:

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=GBTT

I have two thoughts:

1) Nakheel pulled a fast one on the time-space continuum, and QE2 spent late August in the Adriatic;

2) QE is going to have the radio code GBTT.

The timing and track make sense with QE's sea trials last month...

Since QM2 couldn't have had GBTT, with their services overlapping (and she "is" GBQM now, I think), I'm really, really happy to see the code staying in the Cunard fleet, as opposed to their using "GBQE."

Jem · « **Reply #1 on:** Sep 10, 2010, 02:10 AM »

Great find, that would be good new.

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #2 on:** Sep 10, 2010, 02:16 AM »

If any ship deserves GBTT, its QM2...

QueensFan · « **Reply #3 on:** Sep 10, 2010, 02:27 AM »

Quote from: Rob Lightbody on Sep 10, 2010, 02:16 AM

If any ship deserves GBTT, its QM2...

Agreed...but for her to get it, would have required QE2 to forfeit it in 2003...which would have been a sort of Catch-22 from 2003-200X.

I'd much rather see a code with a 75-year direct Cunard history attached to QE, a Cunarder, than some bulker or tanker that gets the luck of the draw in the radio code lottery.

Of course...if we were REALLY going for linearity (and were to set aside the name debate)...both QE2 and QE(II) would be assigned GBSS, QE(I)'s code, which seems unassigned ca.2010. QM2 would be GBTT, in the footsteps of QM. Or at the least, QM2 would have adopted GBSS. (This is the sort of thing that keeps my OCD up late.)

Twynkle · « **Reply #4 on:** Sep 10, 2010, 10:07 AM »

Greg - your ~~OCD~~ curiosity is invaluable, don't let it go!

About allocating a call-sign to a new ship, who would be involved in making the decision?
Is this a technical question relating more to the marine / maritime regulations?

Michael Gallagher · « **Reply #5 on:** Sep 10, 2010, 10:25 AM »

I asked our technical people in October 2008 (after we announced the new Queen Elizabeth) to make sure we held on to it or registered it somehow after QE2's departure.

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #6 on:** Sep 10, 2010, 11:57 AM »

Its great that it is not being "lost" after a 70+ year association with Cunard.

Was it just randomly assigned to QM originally and how was it held between QM's retiral and QE2 entering service?

Has any callsign ever been on 3 ships?

I completely understand why its not on QM2, but I do think it would have been the right place for her. However QM2 is starting her own legend as GBQM.

Isabelle Prondzynski · « **Reply #7 on:** Sep 10, 2010, 11:51 PM »

The news seems to be confirmed here :

http://www.itu.int/online/mms/mars/ship_detail.sh?lang=en&2076900&QUEEN+ELIZABETH

It will take me a moment to get used to this idea... in September 2008, we were still told that GBTT would stay with QE2 and that no other ship would receive this call sign...

Twynkle · « **Reply #8 on:** Sep 11, 2010, 09:19 AM »

Who else may become confused?!

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=GBTT

Just for the record - QE2's call sign is currently YJVW6

Chris Frame · « **Reply #9 on:** Sep 11, 2010, 10:42 AM »

It's wonderful that GBTT is to be kept in the Cunard Fleet - but also another reminder that the QE2 we knew and loved is gone.
I must say these little continuations show that Cunard are proud of their heritage! A regular pax wouldn't know much about callsigns (or the history of GBTT) but for us maritime buffs it makes all the difference!

Peter Mugridge · « **Reply #10 on:** Sep 12, 2010, 01:14 AM »

I wonder if anything like this will happen again?

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1141.0.html

It is technically possible.

bswan · « **Reply #11 on:** Sep 24, 2010, 12:13 PM »

GBTT is our link to the memories of our beloved QE2!!! i couldnt imagine it not being present with Cunard.

Peter Mugridge · « **Reply #12 on:** Sep 24, 2010, 03:22 PM »

GBTT = Great British Touring Tub?

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #13 on:** Oct 24, 2011, 07:20 PM »

Queen Elizabeth's catchy new callsign appears to be ZCEF2

Source - http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Queen-Elizabeth-9477438.html

cunardqueen · « **Reply #14 on:** Oct 24, 2011, 07:37 PM »

Quote

Queen Elizabeth's catchy new callsign appears to be ZCEF2

Cunard can rejoice, Now that GBTT is gone They have a F in call sign which no one wants to see

If only the newest and youngest fleet could move with the speed at which Carnival have done with this...

Twynkle · « **Reply #15 on:** Oct 24, 2011, 07:49 PM »

Rob - When you were on board QE2, did you by any chance discover if GBTT remained on the roofs of some of the tenders?

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #16 on:** Oct 24, 2011, 07:50 PM »

Quote from: Twynkle on Oct 24, 2011, 07:49 PM

Rob - When you were on board QE2, did you by any chance discover if GBTT remained on the roofs of some of the tenders?

I'll have a look at my zillions of photos and see. I stood on top of the GBTT letters on top of the bridge - which were still clearly visible - and looked like with some time and the right product (T-cut would do it i think!), they could be uncovered.

Michael Gallagher · « **Reply #17 on:** Oct 24, 2011, 07:51 PM »

Wasn't GBTT covered / painted over / removed when QE2 was drydocked in 2009?

Rob Lightbody · « **Reply #18 on:** Oct 24, 2011, 07:56 PM »

Quote from: flagship on Oct 24, 2011, 07:51 PM

Wasn't GBTT covered / painted over / removed when QE2 was drydocked in 2009?

Yes, but its there under a thin layer of paint, it was very clearly visible when standing on top of it!

Twynkle · « **Reply #19 on:** Oct 24, 2011, 08:00 PM »

Quote from: Rob Lightbody on Oct 24, 2011, 07:50 PM

I'll have a look at my zillions of photos and see. I stood on top of the GBTT letters on top of the bridge - which were still clearly visible - and looked like with some time and the right product (T-cut would do it i think!), they could be uncovered.

Thank You.
Only if you have time!

(You might need me to move the rest of this post to somewhere else!)

A plea to QE2_DXB -
'Wherever her call sign remains painted on the ship,
please, please, please can it stay.
If it needs to be changed at any time for purely technical / maritime reasons, then please could her original call-sign be kept in tact underneath.
She ain't got her Builders' Plate - therefore keeping her original call-sign seems even more important.
Thank you!

News:

Author Topic: GBTT (used until 24th October 2011) then ZCEF2 (Read 4862 times)

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