Last minute cost-cutting on QE2

[Michael Gallagher]

Yes, B and H were to have been blessed with stairs and early plans show this. Early plans also show that the row of four lifts on E were originally to have been split into two groups of two opposite each other but with one group on port side and the other on starboard - I'm having trouble explaining it. This split was originally to allow this stairway to be used by Cabin and Tourist Class passengers.

[Rob Lightbody]

Taken from the Bow Thrusters topic

The original specification called for stern thrusters too - which would have helped. However, Cunard were shocked when the three tenders were in at the price the yards were quoting. The cheapest, John Browns, was still more than Cunard could afford so in a period of three weeks from tender receipt to contract signing Dan Wallace and Tom Kameen (the men who effectively gave us QE2) deleted and altered a great many things and shaved £1.5 million from the build price. Some of the key things (and the £ savings) were:

•   Stern anchor.
•   The sliding roof on the Sports Deck. £27,300
•   A set of stabilizers (four fins instead of six). £43,420
•   One auto tensioning winch. £8,000   
•   Cathodic Protection. £6,600
•   Two aft cranes. £32,000
•   The aft MacGregor hatch and trunk. £27,000
•   The aft thrust units. £46,000
•   Mental Ward and Mortuary. £1,600
•   Verandah Grill from funnel base. £35,000
•   Fur Store. £2,000
•   Breakwater. £1,000
•   Six lifts. £40,500
•   Two gangway handling winches. £   1,700
•   Special cruising gangways. £500
•   Twin boiler casings. £3,500
•   Insulation in the way of the steam pipe passage.

Major Alterations:

•   The cruise launches were modified.
•   The forward cranes to be Stothert & Pitt.
•   The boat davits to be steel in lieu of aluminium. £69,000
•   Omit the painting of aluminium behind the Linings. £12,000
•   Enamel beds for crew instead of aluminium. £10,000
•   The relocation of insulated cargo from aft to forward. £1,000
•   The Boiler Seatings were reduced in number.

The stern anchor and morturary would be put back into the ship.

The reduction of the boilers would effectively cripple the ship until her re-engining as the system lost its redundancy.

But if the above was not done, perhaps the ship would not have been built!

[Bob C.]

Yes, B and H were to have been blessed with stairs and early plans show this.

Not trying to being cheeky but did you mean "blessed with lifts"?

Early plans also show that the row of four lifts on E were originally to have been split into two groups of two opposite each other but with one group on port side and the other on starboard - I'm having trouble explaining it. This split was originally to allow this stairway to be used by Cabin and Tourist Class passengers.

I get the picture but where would the stairs be?  Would they be as is or a different configuration? 

With the dual class use, would one set be used for cabin class and the other set for the tourist class serving different decks - along the lines of D Stariway's 3, 4 and 5 Deck differences?

Also doesn't "Cabin and Tourist Class" infer three classes (First, Cabin & Tourist)?

[Michael Gallagher]

Now stairs would be handy! Sorry about that!

Yes, the stairs were different and they wrapped around the lift groupings. There would have been a barrier dividing them to seperate cabin and tourist. This was when the ship was a three-class configuration which she was until the decision for two classes was taken in May 1966.

[Malcolm]

Also doesn't "Cabin and Tourist Class" infer three classes (First, Cabin & Tourist)?

In her original design she was to be a three class ship. The decision to make her a two class ship came once the construction was well under way

[jdl]

Interesting to see what was considered acceptable to delete to save money!

Mental Ward - apart from getting upset from a larger waist I can't see the need for a mental ward, mortuary sadly yes
Fur store - how times and attitudes change
Aft MacGregor hatch - no idea what this is
Sliding roof - added and removed!
Veranda Grill - a later addition!
Cathodic protection - again no real idea what it is but she managed quite well without it! I've avoided the obvious religious type jokes around this one.....

John

[Malcolm]

Aft MacGregor hatch - no idea what this is

I've never heard of them either but Google provides this site: http://www.macgregor-group.com/?id=5394 Does that help 

Cathodic protection - again no real idea what it is but she managed quite well without it

I understood that "Cathodic Protection" involved the fitting of sacrificial anodes to the hull. These anodes are made of a more reactive metal than the hull (a steel hull might have zinc anodes) that "give" their ions to prevent the hull itself corroding. Once the anodes are heavily corroded then they will need to be replaced. I am amazed that the QE2 was never fitted with these; I always assumed (very dangerous  ) that every metal hulled ship would be fitted with them.

[Bob C.]

This was a great discussion that will hopefully continue. 

What was the breakwater to look like and where would it have gone?  Would the bow anchor machinery have stayed the same or fitted around a breakwater design?

[Rod]

Actually, just before I left they actually did construct a "rubber room" it was located in the Hospital Staff accom just across the working alleyway from the crew entrance. During testing it was found that without changing the lock on the door...which they didn't the inmate could just walk out!

[Rob Lightbody]

If the number of boilers hadn't been reduced, would the funnel have been less slim due to more up takes?

[Alan Snelson]

I understood that "Cathodic Protection" involved the fitting of sacrificial anodes to the hull. These anodes are made of a more reactive metal than the hull (a steel hull might have zinc anodes) that "give" their ions to prevent the hull itself corroding. Once the anodes are heavily corroded then they will need to be replaced. I am amazed that the QE2 was never fitted with these; I always assumed (very dangerous  ) that every metal hulled ship would be fitted with them.

I believe Cathodic Protection is more necessary and commonly used on vessels with aluminium hulls. Salt water immersion is very damaging to aluminium. The size and number of cathodes required for something the size of QE2 and the rate at which they erode would have made their use a huge and ongoing expense.

[ship pro]

The ship has catholic protection which has been serviced at her last dry docking in Dubai. I hope Dubai drydocks have it on!! I have my doubts they know what their doing, it's really like putting a Rolls Royce into a quick fit garage for a major service.
Dubai drydocks only know about tankers and all tankers are very similar layouts.

[andy liney]

The ship has catholic protection....

What about the protestants??

[Rod]

What about the protestants??

Send the ship to the scrap yard and the protestants will be up and down the high street!

[ship pro]

Sorry apple predictive text caught me out !

[skilly56]

There are two different types of cathodic protection.
One type has an anode and a cathode in each sea chest, and the ions released are then carried through all the sea water pipework within the hull to prevent (or, slow down is probably more accurate) corrosion and growth.
The second type is what most people are referring to - this induces an impressed current to counteract the effects of electrolysis to protect the hull. I have worked with Cathelco systems in the past and they work quite well if kept within their working parameters. Google 'Cathelco' for a more detailed explanation and a couple of animations showing how the systems work.
A few years back I posted photos of the QE2 shaft earthing system - under 'Diesel Electric Propulsion' if I recall.
Cheers
Skilly

[Lynda Bradford]

Hi Skilly

You contributed such a lot of information on the combined  QE2 Engines and QE2 Engines (diesel-electric power) topic board, which was a fantastic insight for members, even non technical people (like me).
 
On page 3 post number 97 you mentioned the propeller shaft earthing connection.  Is this the photo you were referring?

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1039.80.html

Number 13.  Almost forgot the most important one. The propeller shaft earthing connection. As the rotating mass of the shaft is spinning it builds up a static electrical charge. If that charge is not correctly discharged to the hull structure, it will find a way to earth itself through the prop motor, pedestal bearings or the O.D. Box. I have been on a diesel electric ship where this high current-low voltage discharge from the diesel-generator installation has welded the main bearing shells to the engine crankshaft and spun them in the webs! Very messy, and the crank had to be removed & reground, and the entablature was line bored - a very major job.

[June Ingram]

If QE2's cathodic protection were serviced at the last Dubai dry docking, what would be her condition now ?  If she were not serviced then, again what would be her condition ? 

[Bruce Nicholls]

If QE2's cathodic protection were serviced at the last Dubai dry docking, what would be her condition now ?  If she were not serviced then, again what would be her condition ?

Depends on the water the vessel is in, salinity etc. Also on electrical activity around the ship.

What could happen is shown in my pics showing anodes on Lone Gerd after 12 months. The one attached to the stern gear has gone. It was the size of the one shown on a water intake and Lone Gerd is wooden with metal fittings, not all metal.

[June Ingram]

Depends on the water the vessel is in, salinity etc. Also on electrical activity around the ship.

What could happen is shown in my pics showing anodes on Lone Gerd after 12 months. The one attached to the stern gear has gone. It was the size of the one shown on a water intake and Lone Gerd is wooden with metal fittings, not all metal.

Thank you very much, Bruce for your reply and pictures.  Not an encouraging prospect considering Lone Gerd's condition is after only 12 months.

[Twynkle]

We are fast approaching the 50th anniversary of the contract being placed for QE2 on 30 December 1964.
....

Michael - thanks so much for the reminders that you kindly posted today, as well as posted earlier in this topic.

Please, would it be possible for us to think specifically about the planned 'breakwater'?
It wasn't re-instated was it?
If it had it been 'stuck' onto her foredeck, do you think the risks to the Look-out Bar and the foredeck doors, hatches etc would have been different?
It's interesting to note that the height of QM2's breakwater is considerable - I wonder if this was made higher as a direct result of QE2 not having one? (!)

Also, on reflection - do you and the engineers et al have thoughts now about any of the other things that were left off the list then?
(Hoping you will excuse so many questions!    )
Rosie