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. Source of information: Michael Gallagher, former Cunard Historian's, documentation on QE2 refits.
Background:There were uncompleted aspects of the refit work carried out by Bethlehem Steel Corporation during the
refit of 3 to 20 December 1977 that were address during the 1978 World Cruise.
Outstanding work/problems following refit included:
Tables of the World Restaurant Banquette seating in the French, Spanish and Italian areas
Chair cushion re-upholstery in the Oriental section.
Installation of a small buffet table outside restaurant entrance.
Installation of additional artefacts.
Quarter Deck Promenades Port and starboard chair replacements.
Five Deck Corridors Carpet replacement and bulkhead repairs.
Damage caused to the refurbished Five Deck corridors by mishandling of baggage trucks was dealt with.
Various Public Rooms and Areas Carpet shampooing.
Carpet repairs in 120 areas throughout QE2
"
The new Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Suites and the new Penthouses were not fully completed during the December 1977 refit and outstanding items included plumbing installations. Fewer cabins received work than planned – the scope of the overhaul being too ambitious in its undertaking. The remodelling of cabins would continue throughout 1978 with work crews travelling throughout."
"During the early stages of the voyage a number of minor problems were experienced in the new Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Suites such as loose fittings and missing trims and these were dealt with. Additional table lamps were fitted to ease the problems of damage to the Halogen standard light fittings that had been used."
Penthouses Suites Numerous door replacements.
Carpeting of patios.
Installation of fixed patio furniture.
Queens and Princess Grill Cabins Installation of refrigerators.
The work of refurbishing First Class and Tourist Class cabins continued by using a small working party of five upholsterers and carpet layers and four additional carpenters.
Refurbishing programme Hong Kong (13 – 18 March 1978)"A comprehensive refurbishing programme was undertaken in Hong Kong and a great deal of work was accomplished to complete that which could not be done at the time of the 1977 refit.
During the early stages of the voyage a number of minor problems were experienced in the new Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Suites such as loose fittings and missing trims and these were dealt with. Additional table lamps were fitted to ease the problems of damage to the Halogen standard light fittings that had been used."
Crew Areas
Crew areas, which were also not brought up to standard during the refit in December 1977.
TechnicalBoilers and distillation plant: Despite work being done on the main turbines during the overhaul in 1977, there were a series of malfunction with the boilers and the fresh water distillation plant during the 1978 World Cruise. Difficulties in producing fresh water was due to the loss of steam in the boiler tubes.
Engineers from Foster Wheeler, the boiler specialists, travelled onboard and a schedule of boiler repairs was tabled.
24 January - Prior to the ship transiting the Panama Canal work on the
superheater tubes of the port boiler was carried out.
14 February - The
starboard boiler was shut down at Auckland for the purpose of carrying out a more permanent
repair to the roof linings during which time the
opportunity as taken to clean this boiler on the fire side. The boiler was returned to service on 18 February.
18 February to 21 February - The
aft boiler was taken out of service and
roof repairs were completed by 21 February.
The superheater elements were renewed.Toilet Facilities: Unacceptable toilet facilities and blocked urinals, necessitated the addition of four plumbers temporarily added to the ship’s complement to work on crew toilets. Shore labour was also used at Sydney and Singapore.
Fire Doors and Dampers: The Technical Department paid particular attention to fire doors and dampers – this was an area highlighted by the Department of Trade during the 1977 refit as requiring urgent attention. Cunard promised the DoT that improvements would be in place by the time QE2 returned to Southampton on 22 April.
Work to ensure QE2 passed the next USPH inspection was undertaken.
Lockers were built in the following areas:Aft of the Penthouses on Signal Deck for stores and cleaning equipment.
Forward of the Penthouses on Sports Deck.
Queens Grill kitchen.
Port and starboard sides of the forward kitchen entrances in the Tables of the World Restaurant.
Screens to kitchen entrances were built to screen openings.
Scuppers were fitted with water gulleys at kitchen entrances between restaurant and kitchens.
Kitchen deck heads were washed ready for QE2 returning to US waters and USPH inspections.
Bulkheads on One, Two and Three Decks received attention.
French Polishing Work - Ten French polishers were engaged to work in Penthouse corridors, squares, ventilation grills. The black polish work in Suiterooms required and received attention.
Repairs to the
Boat Deck and
outside teak doors were undertaken.
