QE2's Hull Patches - what was each one from?

[Michael Gallagher]

Tug Contact - 2000

While manoeuvring within the entrance to Fremantle Harbour at 0650 hours on 21 February 2000 the tug Burra, which was in attendance forward, made heavy contact with her stern on QE2’s starboard side in the Six Deck area. QE2 sustained damage to three frames (249 / 250 and 251) and an indentation to the hull of approximately 75 mm over the area between frames 248 to 252.

[Michael Gallagher]

Japanese Warship - 2000


On 4 July 2000, while docking in New York, one of the tugs assisting QE2 temporarily lost control in a strong ebb tide which resulted in QE2 drifting and making contact with the Japanese warship Koshima which was berthed alongside.

It was an extremely busy time in New York with warships from all over the world taking part in a naval display. Captain Paul Wright had earlier met with the Docking Master of the New York Port Authority and pilots about the docking on 4 July and was assured that the four warships would be docked well back from the corner of the downsteam pier, giving him the corner to rest on if needed when berthing QE2. Captain Wright would not try the berthing otherwise.

Captain Wright delayed his arrival on 4 July by about 30 minutes in order to wait for less current and then began to manoeuvre with tugs in place as instructed. When he started into the entry into Pier 92, it was clear that the warships were much farther out than he had been promised, in fact they were very near the end of the pier. There were two warships rafted abreast on the opposite pier with bows outward making a narrow entry into the slip. However, Captain Wright had no choice but to continue the manoeuvre as to attempt to stop and reverse would have been very dangerous. The aircraft carrier USS Kennedy, with 14 or 15 tugs on her, was behind QE2 waiting to dock after her.

All was going well with QE2 until one of the tugs at the stern got caught in the current and had to pull away to reposition. At that point, the remaining tug could not hold QE2 against the current and her stern swung into the bow of Koshima. The tug had been on the opposite side of the ship from the Captain and Pilot who were on the portside wing.

Koshima was pushed forward into a British warship, Manchester.

Captain Wright and his officers visited the Captains of the warships to apologise but as damage was limited to scratches, lost paintwork and severed lines holding the Koshima the naval officers were not concerned. The US Coast Guard considered the whole incident to be very minor.

An Admiral on Koshima stated:

      “…it was an honour to be kissed by a Queen!”

QE2 delayed her departure slightly to 2030 hours in order to wait for slack water – with the warships still rafted up two abreast, this was seen as a prudent measure.

See also "Kissed by a Queen"

[Michael Gallagher]

Tug Contact - 2004

While docking in Tenerife on 17 November 2004 the forward tug started to act erratically and made a sudden turn towards the bow of QE2 resulting in the mast structure coming into contact with the flare of QE2’s bow. The resultant contact caused the tugs mast to bend a few degrees from the vertical and scratched a small section of QE2’s paintwork.

The tug advised QE2 that the starboard engine had failed at a critical time causing the tug to strike QE2’s bow.

[Michael Gallagher]

Whale - 2005

On 17 April 2005 while en route to Madeira from Southampton QE2 came into contact with the body of a decomposing whale. The ship’s speed was reduced and the body fell away.

Captain Nick Bates reported:

   “…while approximately 40miles off the NW coast of Spain we came into contact with the decomposing body of a dead whale. The ships speed was reduced to 6 knots and the carcass fell off the bow. I would estimate the whale to be in the region of 60 feet long, quite a reasonable size. No damage was sustained to the ship and as far as I am aware the incident did not come to the notice of any passengers. We will give the bow a good examination in Funchal just to confirm there is no damage”.

[Michael Gallagher]

Pontoon - 2005

On departure from Geiranger on 15 July 2005 QE2’s wash disturbed and dislodged a small pontoon moored on the shore line. No one was hurt but the pontoon gangway became dislodged and carnage was required to replace the facility to its operational standard.

[Michael Gallagher]

Tug Contact - 2005

On 21 August 2005 during arrival manoeuvres in Bergen the aft tug (Belos) landed heavily on the port quarter of QE2 causing indentation of the hull plating at frames 19 and 20. The QE2 protested and a ‘condition of class’ was imposed.

[Michael Gallagher]

Whale - September 2005

On 15 September while crossing the Atlantic an unidentified object was seen floating nearby to QE2’s course. The ship was slowed as she made a round turn to investigate. The floating object was identified as a dead whale.

[Michael Gallagher]

Scraping the Bottom - 2005

When leaving Cagliari (Sardinia) on Friday 30 September 2005 QE2 touched the bottom close to the breakwater.

Later inspections, as part of her underwater hull survey, discovered extensive scoring to her bottom hull plating on the starboard side; the deepest to 4 mm from frame 132 to 212, between the starboard bilge keel and to within 2.5 mm approx. of the centreline between frames 215 and 130 (approximately). Some bottom plating was also indented approximately 25 to 30 mm Bilge Keel starboard plating set in underside and plate buckled topside.

David Christie (Princess Cruises’ Vice President Marine) advised me in Rio de Janeiro on 27 January 2006 that QE2’s double bottom had been damaged in Cagliari and he expressed relief it hadn’t been one of the Princess ships as if one of them had endured what QE2 had, they would have been “sliced open”.

[Michael Gallagher]

Whale - 2005


While on passage between Lisbon and Barcelona on 20 December 2005 at approximately 2315 hours in the traffic lanes off St Vincent at sea speeds of 26.5 knots QE2 struck a whale.

It was a stormy night with moderate rain and the animal was not seen from the Bridge. The first indication officers had of the incident was a reduction in speed and an increase in the load on the engines. The Third Officer was sent forward and initially could not see anything due to the wind and spray. The ship was slowed to 14 knots; the Third Officer then reported seeing a whale impaled on the stem. Speed was reduced further to four knots at which point the apparently dead whale slid clear of the bow and sunk.

Headway was regained at 2355 hours and QE2 resumed passage at 2400 hours.

[Michael Gallagher]

Tug Contact - 2006


While departing Curacao on Saturday 14 January 2006 the tug ‘Jaro II’, while pushing on the starboard shoulder hit and damaged QE2’s hull in way of frame 230. QE2’s departure was delayed while an examination too place. Cabin 5025 was damaged which necessitated re-building.

Lloyd’s visited the ship on 23 January for further inspections but very little action was recommended.

[Michael Gallagher]

And all of the above on top of the damage caused by numerous storms over the years including the rogue wave in 1995!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

What a fantastic list, Michael! Thank you for this compilation, which shows your extraordinary knowledge of the ship and how much QE2 underwent during the course of her life as well as her strength. The patches each tell a story...

I relish this quote :

David Christie (Princess Cruises’ Vice President Marine) advised me in Rio de Janeiro on 27 January 2006 that QE2’s double bottom had been damaged in Cagliari and he expressed relief it hadn’t been one of the Princess ships as if one of them had endured what QE2 had, they would have been “sliced open”.

[Peter Mugridge]

A fascinating catalogue, Michael.

Do we know which of these various incidents resulted in the patch in Rob's picture, and which caused the subsequent dent visible on that patch?

[Thomas Hypher]

Scraping the Bottom - 2005

When leaving Cagliari (Sardinia) on Friday 30 September 2005 QE2 touched the bottom close to the breakwater.

Later inspections, as part of her underwater hull survey, discovered extensive scoring to her bottom hull plating on the starboard side; the deepest to 4 mm from frame 132 to 212, between the starboard bilge keel and to within 2.5 mm approx. of the centreline between frames 215 and 130 (approximately). Some bottom plating was also indented approximately 25 to 30 mm Bilge Keel starboard plating set in underside and plate buckled topside.

David Christie (Princess Cruises’ Vice President Marine) advised me in Rio de Janeiro on 27 January 2006 that QE2’s double bottom had been damaged in Cagliari and he expressed relief it hadn’t been one of the Princess ships as if one of them had endured what QE2 had, they would have been “sliced open”.

Michael was part of the underwater work undertaken in her last Cunard drydocking in Bremerhaven in early 2006 related to this? Excellent records as always 

[Rob Lightbody]

In haste... Moderators, please Can we please keep separate the discussion of the aluminium superstructure and it's repairs, from the steel hull and it's repairs.

Michael your information is incredible!!  I thought you might have something, but that's quite something!

Awesome information ... I just love the idea of trying to connect photos of repairs to historic events. You could label them in all Dubai for interest!

[Thomas Hypher]

Collision with Whale - 1996

On 15 September 1996 QE2 hit a 60-foot whale which then became lodged on the bulbous bow as the ship entered Lisbon. As the whale was pinned by the tide the rescue workers had to wait for the direction of the current to change before they could tow it away. A crane was then used to remove the whale from the water by which time it was dead.

A week before I was born...Turns out QE2 was a day out of arrival to New York on Sunday 22nd September 1996.

[Pete Hamill]

2005 wasn't a good year for whales!!!

[Andy Holloway]

Brilliant work Michael.

While not being a 'denting' does you list go as far as the incident in Lisbon when the crane holed one of the [Stbd?] lifeboats, while it was still in its davits! ? I can't remember the exact year but think it might have been 2002/03!

[Twynkle]

Oh Michael - This is simply The Best (of the worst)
it makes for extra-special reading...
Thank You so much.

Just as a matter of interest - were there reports of any tricky happenings whilst QE2 was sailing into Montevideo?
Long, narrow as well as very shallow channel etc?  Was the Mersey ever a problem?
Thinking about the ship herself,  timings, tides, wind and sea conditions etc for the pilots, tug masters
as well as the Captain / navigators, engineers etc. so much depends on how things are,
and on reading your posts, it seems even more of a responsibility than most people will ever be aware of...

Pontoon - 2005

On departure from Geiranger on 15 July 2005 QE2’s wash disturbed and dislodged a small pontoon moored on the shore line. No one was hurt but the pontoon gangway became dislodged and carnage was required to replace the facility to its operational standard.

We were on board - loving every minute, July - August 2005 and 2008.
In Geiranger, wasn't she at anchor,  it must have been a mighty swoosh!
The top and bottom images are of Geiranger

Flaam - whilst getting ready to sail, she broke a line - on the port-side causing quite a degree of consternation...
Beforehand we'd been watching a football game, locals v crew!
This was on the patch of grass you can see where she was parked.

[pete cain]

    Strictly off mission here but ,I look at these posts, & wonder if any person out there will take it upon themselves to chart QM2 & all her comings & goings  dints & bangs  (before it's too late).