QE2 and the tug or tugs / being tugged

[Waverley]

From another website

When QUEEN ELISABETH 2 left the Norwegian city Ålesund Sunday evening, there was an incident with the tug MULTIMAMMUT. Apparently there was a line still attached between the tug and liner which should not have been, and as the QE2 moved out, it pulled the tug very far over until the bridge nearly was awash. The line then came loose from the tug, and the tug righted itself immediately.

As I understand things, the tug had not taken on water, but would have done so if the bridge had gone under. No persons were injured. It seems to have hit the news just a few minutes ago - there is yet only one newsitem out on it, and a rather information-challenged one at that. The local newspaper in Ålesund doesn't seem to do much updating of its website on Sundays. There is no information or indication of fault yet.

Note: the Images of the incident are no longer available

See post 32 for video footage of the incident posted by Alfie.

[Bob C.]

Whoops!

Oustanding find Robert.  Are you getting paid to do all this research?  Do you have time for your day job?  Regardless, your posts are incredibly interesting and much appreciated.

[Rob Lightbody]

I can't believe we don't have a topic about tugs yet?

Is 'tugged' a verb if you say - QE2 is being tugged just now - or what was the proper term?

Have a look at this SUPERB photo of QE2 being tugged on the Clyde in 2007, 40 years to the day after her launch there, by the Flying Phantom.

http://www.ephotozine.com/photo/1490866

[Twynkle]

Superb photo, Rob!
It's a very sad story too -
3 crew lost their lives as she capsized a couple of months later.
[edited 6.45 pm]

I can't believe we don't have a topic about tugs yet? 

We did have a topic on tugs - I think!
There are 4 pages with references to them.
QE2 must have known more tugs than most - all round the world!!

[Rob Lightbody]

Superb photo, Rob!
It's a very sad story too -
3 crew lost their lives as she capsized soon after it was taken

that makes it sound like it was the same day or something! It was 3 months later. I listened in to the marine radio channels that day - all the tugs were very proud to be working with the mighty QE2 and were enjoying talking to her too. When QM2 appeared last year, the tugs were, of course, nowhere to be seen.

[holynougat]

You would not say 'tugged'

The ship 'takes a tug' - but its called towage, so the ship would be 'under tow'

When a ship capsizes a tug it is usually due to 'girting' i.e. when the tug ends up 90 degrees to the direction of the ship and literally gets pulled over - very dangerous and why most tugs have quick release lines these days rather than fixed bollards.

[Louis De Sousa]

QE2 under tow in Mombasa, Kenya during the 1991 World Cruise.



Louis

[Louis De Sousa]

And here in Sydney, Australia in 1994 with 4 tugs



Louis

[Bob C.]

New York, August 1969 with a Moran Towing Corp tug ("M") positioning to help us get underway from Pier 92 and the same tug between Piers 88 and 90.

[Twynkle]

You would not say 'tugged'

The ship 'takes a tug' - but its called towage, so the ship would be 'under tow'

When a ship capsizes a tug it is usually due to 'girting' i.e. when the tug ends up 90 degrees to the direction of the ship and literally gets pulled over - very dangerous and why most tugs have quick release lines these days rather than fixed bollards.

Steering QE2 and at the same time, co-ordinating tugs, speed, direction and conditions must have been difficult.
Was it usually done under direction of the Pilot  - albeit, with the Master still 'in charge'?
This was taken in Geiranger, Norway 2008 - QE2 had been under tow (2 tugs) for a considerable length of the fjord.
It would seem that the tug is almost at right angles to the bow of QE2.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/3660367599/in/set-72157620557118998/

Peter Moxom et al (1990) give a good description of the complexities of tugs, lines and 'letting go' in 'Driving the Hotel'.

 

[cunardqueen]

Leaving Gib at the end of a cruise in 2007 l was under the bridge and a few of us remarked that the tug did seem very close for comfort as the bow was swinging round. The first photo tried to capture how close the berth was to the tug and to us, we half expected something to get jammed.....   

[Bob C.]

Leaving Gib at the end of a cruise in 2007 l was under the bridge and a few of us remarked that the tug did seem very close for comfort as the bow was swinging round. The first photo tried to capture how close the berth was to the tug and to us, we half expected something to get jammed.....   

Tug masters are very down-to-earth and seat-of-the-pants kind of folks.  I joined them on occasion when they brought the aircraft carriers in to San Diego as part of my Navigator training.  They know there boats very well as far as power, speed, size, where to go and most importantly where not to go.  Not to say they don't make mistakes from time to time but they are very good at what they do. 

I got to drive the tug too - most fun I've had driving anything on the water.  Rremember they don't have conventional propellers and can maneuver in any direction at any time with lots of power. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

We did have a topic on tugs - I think!

I thought so too, Rosie, and checked... it turned out that it was Pilot Boats :

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1360.0.html

It would be great now to use that topic specifically for QE2 and the Pilot Boats      !

[Hamburger]

I can't believe we don't have a topic about tugs yet?

Is 'tugged' a verb if you say - QE2 is being tugged just now - or what was the proper term?

Have a look at this SUPERB photo of QE2 being tugged on the Clyde in 2007, 40 years to the day after her launch there, by the Flying Phantom.

http://www.ephotozine.com/photo/1490866

Greenock, 20.09.2007

[Twynkle]

I thought so too, Rosie, and checked... it turned out that it was Pilot Boats :

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1360.0.html

It would be great now to use that topic specifically for QE2 and the Pilot Boats      !

Isabelle - I'm  still wondering about the tug topic...
Maybe it got mixed up somewhere else - or (Sssh!) accidentally got buried in the archives?!

Here's a tug helping QE2 in her farewell to Adelaide  - just over 2 years ago - and QM2 left there yesterday!

Note: link to casnick1 video not available.