Security and Incidents on Board

[jdl]

Possibly a more bizzare question than normal, but, has anyone ever witnessed the deployment of the security team for an 'incident on board'  I can't really see the age of the QE2 clients really needing this, but you never know!

My only experience was on the Christmas mini break cruise in 2002 when a very very drunk chap was asked to leave the Yacht club after trying it on with various women in a typically iritating way - as I commented on his ejection from the room my fiancee (we had got engaged the previous evening on QE2) commented that he had pinched her ar$e at the bar some 20 mins earlier whilst I was sat at the table! 

We subsequently found out he was a fellow Queens Grill Passenger staying in one of the signal deck suites and was a stereo-typical english 'hooray henry', we overheard that he was regularly involved in these types of incidents and often used his chequebook to solve the damage left in his wake.......

In terms of the issue at the Yacht Club, the security chaps and their officer delt with him quickly and effectively despite his do you know who I am and how much money I am spending attitude.

I did hear that most of the security team were ex Ghurkas - even if this wasn't the case I certainly wouldn't have argued with them as they were rather well built to say the least!!

[Louis De Sousa]

Security was very tight when VIPs came onboard.On World Cruises security is normally very tight.Haifa in Isreal is a good example where you have military guarding the whole area.Very often you see the officers dive under the ship in ports.

As for incidents their has been lots of persons been lifted onboard Helicopters and taken away.In 1972 a bomb hoax had started a full-scale exercise at sea with the SAS getting involved.

Their has also been small fires onboard which the crew managed to handle it.

Louis

[Heather]

My Mother and sister were on QE2 just after 9/11.  The security was very strict and SAS were onboard.

My sis was also on when a whole family were put off at the next port for their behaviour!

[Fairfield]

When I was on a 1988 English Channel Cruise a crew member was stabbed during some altercation or other and had to be airlifted off by helicopter. I missed that just getting up on deck as it was ready to leave. We had to put into Plymouth Sound for Police to come aboard etc.

[Malcolm]

We were on the Christmas cruise when the German woman went missing. The first thing was a wave of gossip that swept the ship; then there were several announcements first calling her and then asking if anybody had seen her. Finally everyone was told to return to their cabins, check them carefully and then to remain there while the ship was searched. Whilst we were confined to our cabin someone came to ask if we had checked. After about an hour there was a further announcement saying that everyone could then leave their cabin. I don't believe the woman was ever found

[Louis De Sousa]

I don't believe the woman was ever found

No, she was never found

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jan/03/travelnews.travel

Louis

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Presumably this got a lot of press coverage in Germany...? It would explain why German people have occasionally said to me that "people vanish into thin air on QE2"... and I have never known how this supposition came about.

Is this the only case, or have other people also vanished inexplicably while on the ship?

[Louis De Sousa]

Is this the only case, or have other people also vanished inexplicably while on the ship?

This was not the first case on the QE2.

Louis

[Rod]

When I was a Cadet on board in 1971. I was working the nightshift. At that time no weapons were carried on board apart from the trap shooting shotguns. I was asked to go and lend a hand at what would now be called a "domestic disturbance" on 1 deck aft. No Penthouse suites at the time.
Turns out that Peter Sellers and his girlfriend at the time, Miranda Quarry, were having an argument. She was the daughter of Cunards Chairman, Lord Mancroft. The night Hotel Officer and I were trying to get them to calm it down and the Chief Master at Arms, Dudley Pritchard shows up with a shotgun.....that drove Sellars into a bigger rage!

[Pat Curry]

A friend of ours. We were not on board at the time.  An unsolved mystery.  
http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2001/08/07/37672/Missing-QE2-chef-is-named.htm

[Lynda Bradford]

Cunard Insights Lecture: Undercover on QE2

I have just returned from a fabulous cruise on Queen Victoria where I thoroughly enjoyed the Insight Lectures. 

Duncan Falconer an author and former Special Boat Service Commando gave three very interesting lectures. The first one on joining the marines, then because he was offered a desk job after finishing his training, he applied for SBS training.  He was one of nine who successfully completed the course out of 147 men. 

In his last talk "Undercover on QE2" he spoke about his job with a private security company after leaving the SBS.  In 1986 there was a terrorist threat to shipping and as QE2 was thought to be a prime target he was given the task of sailing from Southampton to NY undercover as a passenger.  His task was to identify and secure landing areas for SBS should QE2 be under attack.  He displayed photos of boarding QE2 and being welcomed to the Captain's cocktail party by Captain Portet (dated 1986).

The lecture made me think if any of our members were on the ship at the time - passenger or crew and if anyone had knowledge of this threat to QE2. 



Photo of Duncan Falconer's slide

[Andy Holloway]

Security was very tight when VIPs came onboard.On World Cruises security is normally very tight.Haifa in Isreal is a good example where you have military guarding the whole area.Very often you see the officers dive under the ship in ports.

As for incidents their has been lots of persons been lifted onboard Helicopters and taken away.In 1972 a bomb hoax had started a full-scale exercise at sea with the SAS, and getting involved.

Their has also been small fires onboard which the crew managed to handle it.

Louis

It was not the SAS, but 'other Special Forces' were available and provided the majority of this 4 man team.

[Andy Holloway]

A friend of ours. We were not on board at the time.  An unsolved mystery.   
http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2001/08/07/37672/Missing-QE2-chef-is-named.htm

I was the Chief Security Officer on QE2 when this incident occurred and all i will say, for the families privacy reasons is that, the investigation unveiled some very sad and 'cultural' points.

incident discussion closed.