Alpha and Beta - QE2's Large Tenders 1983 until 1994

[Michael Gallagher]

Alpha and Beta were sold to a new owner in Croatia and were delivered after QE2 had arrived in Hamburg in November 1994 for her Project Lifestyle refit.

[Chris]

Thanks Michael, glad they told you where they were going

Do you know if they area still there?

[Rob Lightbody]

When were they originally added?  Was it the post-Falklands refit?

[Cunarder Man]

I boarded QE2 for the first time in December 1983 after she returned from a refit in Germany - Bremerhaven I think. The new Magnadrome had been added and I'm sure Alpha & Beta were added at this point too. Here's a picture from the dockside with ? Alpha lowered.

[Michael Gallagher]

Alpha and Beta were added during the 1983 refit in Bremerhaven (27 November - December). However preparatory work was undertaken as follows:

The aft deck location for the launches were strengthened and cable installation work was carried out in preparation for the installation of the davits while QE2 was in Hong Kong (13 – 16 March 1983).

The new davits were installed while QE2 was still in service and before she entered dry-dock. The starboard davit (for ‘Alpha’) was fitted in Southampton on 26 September 1983 with the port one (for ‘Beta’) being fitted on 8 October.

[Cunarder Man]

Thanks 'Flagship' for the detail regarding Alpha & Beta - I will have loads of pictures to come.

Cheers. John

[Chris]

Great shot, which highlights  how much of the windows were covered over.

Michael perhaps will know, if that alteration was done as reinforcements for the aft davit?

[Rod]

Because I was on leave at the time I was asked to pick up Beta from its berth at Vospers and deliver it to the ship. They said we will get some people to help you at the Ocean Terminal. Yeah right!. I got in touch with the bridge via Beta's radio after waiting for about 3 hours at the Ocean Terminal, ship was late, had started raining, wind was gusting up to15 kts, steady blowing at 10. Getting dark. Eventually another Engineer jumped on to Beta and we got it hoisted. I was not a happy camper!. But the first of the new launches was brought to the QE2 by the Engineering Department.

[Rod]

When Alpha and Beta were delivered, the best Coxn's from the deck department were given training by "Tug" Wilson the Secirity Officer and certified to drive them. They could be a bit finickey so training was required. Biggest problem with them was the size  of the engines that needed warming up for about 10-15 minutes before extended use. When they were dropped from the deck they often needed full power to get away from the ship, this created serious problems and they had to be sent back to Watercraft, the makers, on several occasions for repair. Sometimes you would have to explain to pax...well we cant use our super new tenders because its too rough.
I know one of them was bought by Terry Keirney, Electrical Officer and concerted to a cruise boat.

[Rob Lightbody]

Here's one of Alpha


216-13w by Captain Martini, on Flickr

[Rob Lightbody]

220-31aw by Captain Martini, on Flickr

[Chris]

Just re-reading this now as I thought I saw Alpha/Beta (or a similar design) working the tourist traffic in Venice. Interesting history they had.

[Rod]

I think you will find that it was a fairly standard watercraft design, variations of course being length, engines and seating.
Sadly, they were ordered without too much work being done on the technical specs which led to a lot of breakdowns and costly engine rebuilds!

[Peter Mugridge]

It does raise the question - what happened to them after they were removed from QE2?

[Michael Gallagher]

They were both sold to a new owner in Croatia but as to what happened to them after their 1994 removal....