QE2's 1992 Martha's Vineyard Grounding

[highlander0108]

Here is a link to the accident report on the August 7, 1992 grounding off Cuttyhunk Island, which is off Martha's Vinyard, Massachusetts.

http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources/queen_elizabeth_2_pub_1993.pdf

I remember event this vividly. QE2 made all the news here and although the amount of damage was downplayed, the inevitable comparisions were made to Titanic.  This incedent made QE2 famous, like she needed more notoriety, for illustrating a not widely understood phenomima called suction, where the hydrodynamic properties of the hull running at speed in shallow waters actually pulls the hull towards the bottom.  The amount of "squat" or suction that a large ship creates was not commonly known outside of theoretical engineering circles.  QE2 rather dramatically illustrated this effect.  In defense of the Captain and pilot, the charts had the depth wrong as well.

Michael Gallacher give more details about the Martha's Vineyard Grounding in the "Hull Patches -what was each one from" topic

[pete cain]

Hi Ken, most interesting reading ,I've seen similar reports but this is obviously the full report, I've searched high & low for dockyrd photos of the damage but havn't seen any; were there ever any & if so were they all secreted away? pete cain

[highlander0108]

I'd like to see some good photos as well.  Perhaps someone in the shipyard took some and in time will come forward with them.  Of course, you can bet it was fully documented by Cunard.

[KEV]

What a fascinating report. Obviously a very serious and expensive incident,fortunately with no injuries. It highlighted to me though just what skilled work goes on behind the cossetted world of us passengers

[Mauretania1907]

I have some news reports about this in my scrapbooks that were sent me by an American penfriend at the time, and I suspect she did a lot more damage to herself than merely a scratch on her bottom.

[Louis De Sousa]

I was onboard when it happened in  August 1992.We had just sailed from Marthas Vineyard it was evening was a PRS then working in the old Midships bar when it struck. I think i have pics somewhere as soon as i find it ill post some

Cheers Louis

[KEV]

Louis-you are already proving a great eyewitness man on the spot to some of the things that little is published about-nice one!

[Andy F]

Agree with Kev there Louis and always interesting to hear things from a crew perspective.   

[Louis De Sousa]

Heres the QE2 in Boston drydock.

[Stowaway2k]

An awesome photo.

Doing a google news search,  there was a lot of press coverage of this incident.  Sadly, all these news agencies have a pay-per-view on their archives.   It would make facinating reading.

[Andrew Collier]

Hi Everybody,

The best report of this incident, and the damage it caused, that I have seen, illustrated with a couple of rather average B&W photos showing the damage, is to be found in the later version (2002) of David F. Hutchings 'QE2 A Ship for All Seasons'

An excellent book, many many facts about the ship and its career, and easy to find things in as well. I like the early version (of which there is more than one) so much I bought the updated version to go with it when it came out.

Anyone wanting it should have no trouble finding it through amazon or elsewhere nice and cheap as it is out of print but not rare.

Cheers 

[Chris]

Found this image on the Maritime Traffic website here:

Note: link to Marine Traffic not active

[Andrew Collier]

Excellent set of photos, thanks for sharing, scroll through to number 21 for the Boston Dry Dock one.... Cheers!

[Andy F]

Agree Andy, an excellent collection indeed.  Great to see some of Chris' shots included and enjoyed seeing the ones taken in Piraeus last year as was aboard at the time.

[KEV]

great collection