QE2 Whistles

[Kindlychap]

And another question :

                                     Is this how it's done??

No - it is a white button, with a switch beside to select both, either or foghorn.

Matthew

[Chris]

Was anyone there?

QE2's horn - it is just so superb!

[pete cain]

 out of idle curiosity  ,can any of our sea farers please tell us why vessels seem to always have a 3 whistle salute either to each other or just to the port about to be left?

[Twynkle]

Hi Pete
You might be interested in more on the same subject...
Take a look at post No.32 above.

[Chris]

With a horn like QE2's - three is better than two

[Chris Thompson]

Hi There,
in answer to a former question regarding the whistle/horns. The Foghorn on the fore-deck was installed to reduce the noise levels in the penthouse cabins. This horn was mainly used whilst sailing in fog etc. The horns on the mainmast were used for the midday blast! leaving port and saluting other vessels. Not sure that the forward foghorn really reduced noise,
I remember being able to hear it from the casino on upper deck.
Cheers
CasinoChris

[Twynkle]

Am I right in thinking that the sole purpose of the ship's whistle (officially ) is to act as an 'alarm' bell- both inside a passenger ship, as well as out?
If it is - then wouldn't it seem pretty important for it to be heard throughout the ship at any time - Even in QE2's Penthouse Suites and all!  Do you know which Whistle would be sounded in an emergency - The whistle or the fog-horn or both?
And at the Emergency Drill practice, I can't remember - was it a recording of the whistle that was played - or the genuine article, Live!?

[junglejames]

OK, an answer to a few posts. Some old, some new. I have a recording of the whistle as my ringtone, and I never intend to change it. Its different!
Rosie, the whistle is for the outside world. You have alarm bells for inside the accomodation.
Somebody mentioned you never want to hear 6 short followed by 1 long. Do you by any chance mean 7 or more short, followed by 1 long? and yes, it is 7 or more short. Not 7 short.

Highlander, you said someone had pulled you up over terminology? On land, any sound produced by air would be a horn yes, but we are not on land, we are at sea. At sea the correct terminology is 'Ships Whistle'.
All these sounds we have heard on this thread are Whistles as they are coming from ships.
Whistles may have changed from steam to air, but the terminology hasnt changed.
So Highlander, from now on you can go back to refering to QE2's whistle as her whistle.
In fact, if I see anybody refering to it as her horn, or as I have sometimes heard, her hooter, then I will pull them up and correct them!! Sorry, but we all have our pet hates, and this is one of mine!! LOL

Happy Whistling,

James

[highlander0108]

I did not manage to record the foghorn at the time, but it is one of the horns sounded daily in the noontime whistle test, and I do have two recordings of that :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2943190804/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2942390163/

Enjoy them!

The first recording is a fastinating illustration on just how the wonderful sound of QE2 is actually made. The air and electric Tyfon's on the mast are just slightly out of tune, and when combined make that wonderful harmonious sound.  I do doubt that the forward bow mounted horn really adds much to the sound.

[Kindlychap]

The first recording is a fastinating illustration on just how the wonderful sound of QE2 is actually made. The air and electric Tyfon's on the mast are just slightly out of tune, and when combined make that wonderful harmonious sound.  I do doubt that the forward bow mounted horn really adds much to the sound.

It adds nothing because it isn't used with the main whistles. As I've said earlier, the selector does not give the option of the mast mounted whistles at the same time as the fog horn.

Matthew

[highlander0108]

Gosh, you live and learn, Perhaps when she blew, it put the rest of them to shame
Correct me if lm wrong But when a ship sounds her whistle and gives a very short blast at the end, doesnt this mean thats enough and she wont blow again? or words to that effect...

Our friends who were on the last World Cruise were quite miffed at "Perky" when there was no whistle at all during the departure in Hawaii.  He later came on the tannoy and stated that was the case because of the environment impact on some protected birds prevented this.  Good god, what have we come too?

What about the maritime law requirement to blow the horn three times to signal backing away from the pier?  What if the captain blew the whistle anyway?  What would the fine have been and who the heck enforces that in the first place?

[Clydebuilt1971]

Gosh, you live and learn, Perhaps when she blew, it put the rest of them to shame
Correct me if lm wrong But when a ship sounds her whistle and gives a very short blast at the end, doesnt this mean thats enough and she wont blow again? or words to that effect...

When a ship blows her whistle the number of "blasts" can be taken as a signal to other ships:

1 short blast is to signal a manouvre to Port
2 short blasts is to signal a manouvre to Starboard
3 short blasts is to signal that the ship is moving astern
4 Dont know!!!
5 short blasts means "Please make you intentions clear" and is made to another vessel which may be on a converging course or similar which could create a dangerous situation.

If you end any of these with a short blast then this indicates that the whistle blasts were not intended as a signal.

In London Waverley is not allowed to sound her whistle whilst going under Tower Bridge due to "noise pollution"!!!

Sorry to wander off topic and I hope I am correct.

[Twynkle]

Hi Gav

See Posts above #30 and  31 for de-coding the blasts!

[Clydebuilt1971]

Doh!

Should've read further up!!!

Sorry folks!! 

[skilly56]

Ok, admit it!

Put your hand up those who have deafened everyone on deck by pushing this button (top right)

Just give me time to find my ear muffs first.

Cheers

Skilly