Excellent video as are the three longer follow ups by Chris on his full tour of the ship. Hopefully there are no further delays in completion due to supply issues. May 2024 will then see the first time 4 passenger ships designed from outset for Cunard have been in service together since the Sylvania joined the Caronia and Carinthia in lay up in 1968 as part of the extreme measures needed to be able to fund no 736 completing on Clydebank.
One issue which is perplexing me a little at the moment is that of the air draft (height above the waterline) of the ship, with a figure of 64 metres (210 feet) being quoted on a website, which has now been confirmed in an article on her in the latest issue of Cunarder.
This figure is surprising as the ship is obviously intended to pass through the Panama Canal ( and is scheduled to do so on 25th January 2025 on her maiden world voyage) yet the official maximum height normally allowed to pass under the Bridge of the Americas at Balboa on the Pacific side according to the Panama Canal Authority's Notice to Shipping is 57.9 metres (190 feet) with a possible increase to 62.5 metres (205 feet) being permitted on a case by case basis with passage at low water.
I am aware that the current drought conditions mean that the water levels are lower than normal but that creates its own issues. January 2025 is still a long way away and hopefully the current restrictions will be over by then but there seems to be a potential issue arising unless the 64 metre figure is wrong (possible), the QA has a hinging / lowering facility on her mast like some ships (which has been kept secret - unlikely) or the clearance under the bridge can be increased somehow (seems very unlikely as no mention of this found anywhere.) I am also uncertain if the highest point of QA is the mast or the funnel
It may be that it is possible for a 64 metre height to pass under with extra special permission but this also seems unlikely and too risky to attempt.
For comparison QE2's air draft is 52.4 m (172 feet) and QV/QE's is I believe around 54.5 metres (179 feet) so they both pass under the Bridge with a little room to spare. Since the new locks opened in 2016 it has been possible even for the QM2 to pass through them but Cunard have not to date attempted to send her through - presumably because her air draft of 62 metres (204 feet) is too close to call even if the low water exception was obtained. It seems that air draft may be one dimension where QA exceeds QM2.
I have also looked at Queen Anne's nearest 'relatives' the 3 Holland America 'Pinnacle' class ships and their schedules and it seems that these are not being tasked for Canal transits. Koningsdam is effectively based on the West coast of the USA for the next twelve months on itineraries stretching from Alaska down to Mexico - and out to Hawaii - but does not try to enter the canal - am not sure what route she took out to the West Coast though. Even more interesting is that the latest ship, Rotterdam, is carrying out a series of cruises through the Gatun locks into the Lake and out again without trying to transit. I believe that the air draft of these ships is likely to be lower than Queen Anne's although have not found a figure for it. Therefore the largest ships HAL are sending through are Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam - which are directly comparable in size to QV and QE although their masts are noticeably shorter.
Please can someone shed some further light on this issue - perhaps Chris or Michael Gallagher? There must be a solution for Queen Anne to be able to pass under the Bridge?
Gary
Topic: On Queen Anne at the shipyard (Read 1585 times)
Similar topics (5)
Oct 27, 2020, 10:09 PM
