QE2 In Whale of a Drama.

[Waverley]

http://www.cfz.org.uk/Archiving/Aquatic%206/18-09-1996%20QE2%20cruise%20ship%20hits%2015%20ton%2014m%20whale%20(AEE)177.jpg

[Rob Lightbody]

Hello,

I had an interesting exchange on Twitter today...

In it, basically, a lady was accusing ships like QE2 of killing lots of whales.  When I googled it, I can see that cruise ships, and other large ships, do sometimes appear to kill whales, but nobody appears to know how many.

So my question is, on QE2, is anyone aware of striking any other whales?  Nearly striking them?  Actively avoiding them?  Discussions about this?

[Bruce Nicholls]

Yes. See my account of Voyage 959 when we were told we had hit a whale, although I have to admit we did not actually see it. The announcement also made the point that the whale may have been dead when hit, as live ones would probably clear off as the ship approached, although this may have been to prevent anyone being upset at killing a whale. https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,2646.msg28926.html#msg28926

[Rod]

In 20 years, one whale that I know of. Who is to say? We might have hit others, but none stuck like this one did.

[Michael Gallagher]

When QE2 turned up in Lisbon with a whale stuck on the bow the Captain compared it to running over a cat! Words were despatched from Head Office. I must look up the date and the Captain.

[cunardqueen]

When QE2 turned up in Lisbon with a whale stuck on the bow the Captain compared it to running over a cat! Words were despatched from Head Office. I must look up the date and the Captain.   

A stab in the dark April 2005 and Nick Bates

[Rod]

A stab in the dark April 2005 and Nick Bates

Date is in the original post 9/18/1996, Keith Stanley.

I wasn't on board for that one....so thats at least 2. My one was going to NY.

[Michael Gallagher]

The actual date of the incident was 15 September 1996 - the Daily Echo didn't report it until 18 September 1996.

[Michael Gallagher]

Another whale strike occurred on 28 May 1998 at 0548 hours 28 miles south wast of Cape Finisterre. Captain Roland Hasell in command.