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

[Rob Lightbody]

I've seen photos of them in their new life, someone took photos of them while on holiday. Can't remember where though!

[Adam Ilgin]

I'm not sure if this topic has already been posed, but does anyone have pics of the lifeboats and/or tenders (catamarans or Alpha/Beta) because I haven't found too many photos on google images. Thanks.

~Adam

[cunardqueen]

Here are two for a start...

[Rob Lightbody]

Two topics about alpha and beta but there's more in the forum of you use the search function to find them.

The QE2's Story » The ship herself » Alpha and Beta - QE2's Large Tenders fitted from 1983 until 1994

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,2071

And

The QE2's Story » Service Life (1969 - 2008) » The 1990s » What happened to the original Tenders (Not Alpha & Beta).

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,4600.0.html

[Adam Ilgin]

Thank you, Myles and Rod!

[Adam Ilgin]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what capacity they had?

[Rod]

Supposedly 120 pax

[Willum]

Which reminds me of a ship I joined that was built in the far east, it said on the lifeboats 'Certified for 43 Parsons'

[Adam Ilgin]

Thanks, Rod. That's funny, Willum, I don't know how they could fit that many vintage Parsons steam turbines in one lifeboat. 

[Adam Hodson]

Thanks for that info Rod.

[Trevor Harris]

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.

Wow

[Andy Holloway]

Ladies & Gents, PLEASE, PLEASE can we refer to the tenders by their CORRECT designations;

ALPHA & BRAVO!

They are/were on a BRITISH registered ship and in the UK the phonetic alphabet is ALPHA, BRAVO, Charlie etc etc.

BETA is the AMERICAN version - yuk!!!

[Rod]

You are correct Andy, however, the tender was named Beta.

[Trevor Harris]

BETA is the AMERICAN version - yuk!!!

We sometimes use bravo. Nothing wrong with Beta.

[Trevor Harris]

Sognefjord, Norway - 131-35a by Captain Martini, on Flickr

Found a great picture of alpha.