The QE2 Story would like to thank Michael Gallagher for giving his permission to extract information from information he had compiled on refits and allowing us to make this information available on the QE2 Story Forum.
Timescale: Three weeks
Date: 3 – 21 December 1974
Contractor/Place: Schiedam, Rotterdam and Southampton
Total Cost: £647,000
Captain: M Heir
Background:
On 23 August 1974 Cunard confirmed that QE2 would be refitted in Rotterdam during her annual overhaul in 1974 – the first time the vessel would go to a non-UK yard for refitting.
A Cunard statement:
“The work of QE2’s annual overhaul was offered to Vosper Thornycroft Ltd at Southampton, but the company were unable to take it on because of prior work. The ship was then offered to Scott Lithgow on the Clyde, but they were also unable to undertake the work”.
In addition to usual range of overhaul work, this refit would focus on preparing the ship for her Maiden World Cruise in 1975 and it was this added focus (plus the problems with ‘added work’ during the 1972 refit) which persuaded Vosper Thornycroft, who had other ships to handle at the same time, to refuse to accept QE2. The seven-day schedule was also a factor. Vosper Thornycroft emphasised that their reputation would suffer if they took on too much work, then upset owners by not completing jobs on time.
Despite these facts there was still a furore of protest from the media, unions and official bodies.
An amount of £407,000 was allowed for normal overhaul work, covering both technical and furnishing repairs; some £150,000 was spent of insurance work and £90,000 was spent on capital items.
QE2 entered Dry-Dock on 4 December 1974 and left on 19 December, 1974.
While at the yard, permanent repairs were made to the two 1974 emergencies:
Permanent repairs were undertaken in the engine room after temporary repairs had been made following QE2’s breakdown off Bermuda in April.
Cherbourg Incident:
After QE2 had struck the quay in Cherbourg on 27 October temporary repairs to the gash in the ship’s side had been made by the French navy. Now, permanent repairs were undertaken and further shell dents found below the waterline that had been discovered in Rotterdam were repaired and crew and passenger cabins damaged in the collision received attention.
Return to Service:
The crew were flown out to rejoin QE2; on the passage back to Southampton they had the task of making QE2 ready to embark passengers.
The Board Report Minutes dated 6 January 1975 noted:
“The annual overhaul has been completed in Rotterdam in a most efficient manner. All items submitted for work were completed on time and the final cost agreed before the ship left the yard. The cost was within blueprint. Details of this highly successful overhaul will be contained separately in the Technical Manager’s report”.
