Queen Mary 2 short of lifeboats

[tdickson]

The Queen Mary 2 arrived into Southampton this morning at just passed 6.30 am this morning after her first eastbound transatlantic crossing of the season missus two (2) lifeboats. Only for them to arrive later. As they were from her portside Nos 16 & 18 and unuseually came in Port -side too into Ocean Terminal she also left  just prior to 5 pm without them only to stop once in the Solent and pick them up, before setting sail for Hamburg and the Fjords

[QE2forever]

Does anyone know if the same manœuvre was happening on 5th June?

Because judging from the pictures I saw, one tender (Number 18?) was missing on her portside.

Wondering if it's possible that the one damaged during the World Cruise has'nt been replaced yet?

[Andy F]

As you say, it certainly was missing when she returned to Southampton on 5 June (see below).

QV also had a problem with tenders while in Norway, when during the call at Flåm, I watched as crew members used penetrating oil and a trusty hammer on the locking mechanism of tender 10, which appeared to have become seized. Another unusual occurence was that tender 11 was stowed facing aft for some reason and remained so throughout the voyage.

[CAP]

The tender was missing again for voyage departing on 5/6/12.  Whilst she was alongside in Rotterdam you could see a number of the ship's personnel working on the mechanisms of the missing boat.

[QE2forever]

Lifeboat 16 is back on QM2 since July 27th, as shown on these pictures by Patricia Dempsey:

http://patriciadempsey.net/linerlovers/Southampton_2012/QM2_Ventura.html