White Painted Line Square Outline at Midships

[Bob C.]

In the below photo from 1976 from this webpage (http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/RMS_Queen_Elizabeth_2/) you can see the white painted line between the black paint and red boot topping outlining a square around midships.  To my knowledge this sqare was there from 1969 through at least 1979.  Does anyone know what it is?

[Andrew Collier]

The white line dividing the boot topping from the grey hull paint was simply, and artistically painted in a box around the plimsol markings which are a legal requirement. As far as I am aware, painting a box around them like this was a unique feature to this ship, i don't have any photos of my own to show this clearly, but will look out some links in a day or when have more time if no one beats me to it, I know there is at least one photo showing it clearly in the original version of the warwick/flayhart book....

[Bob C.]

That's interesting.  There were certanly less marking requirements 40 years ago than there are today.  I need to look for a better picture of her early waterline too.

[Andrew Collier]

http://pudzeoch.smugmug.com/gallery/3620601_j9Agk#292811972_CPMSx-X3-LB

If you look at that in maximum size you can make our the markings and the white box....

[Michael Gallagher]

There certainly were more hull markings required in later life from the bow thruster markings and radio call sign above the Bridge being added due to changes in requirements in her later years.

[junglejames]

Yep, thats definitely the plimsol line.
I think it must be unique as ive never seen another vessel with a box painted around it.

Its in the correct place for the plimsol line as well. Right next to the midships draft marks.

James

[richc1977]

The "box" was also present on her predecessors, the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.  I remember from when I used to draw them on my computer.  I've got scans from a few postcards where you can see it, its a little less clear on the Queen Elizabeth scan but you can make it out, and its clear to see on the Queen Mary.

[foreshore]

I could be wrong, but I have a vague recollection of being told it was there as a clear midships mark at the waterline, possibly to assist tug operations..? Reading the thread sparked memories of a visit when I was a kid, & asking about it whilst walking along QE2 docked in Southampton

It certainly seems to be unusual to have waterline markings in that era, and even moreso for QE/QM, compared to the multiude of various markings required on ships today.