QE2 and the tug or tugs / being tugged

[Twynkle]

Robert - that's interesting...

and Everybody -  take a look at this video of QE2 saluting the tug.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3343075272/
Isabelle - Thank you!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Robert - that's interesting...

and Everybody -  take a look at this!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3343075272/
Isabelle - Thank you!

Thank you, Rosie!
This is one of my favourites... of many! New York sailaway -- QE2 saluting the leading tug :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3163046827/

[holynougat]

Rosie - The master is of course always in charge of the ship, but the pilot will always coordinate the tugs.

The QE2 could not really maintain her own heading at much below 5 knots, so you often had tugs standing by while the ship was making reasonable headway.

Yes, there are many different types of tugs these days, quite a few of which can go sideways nearly as quickly as they can go ahead, but tugs are not fast, think of them like lorries, lots of power but no speed.

[Twynkle]

Thanks, holynougat.

A couple of questions (!!)
The pilots and tug masters round the world -
did / do most speak 'nautical language' in English?

Where did QE2 need to take the most and the fewest tugs?
Some harbours and anchorages look a good deal more 'interesting' than others -
in terms of conditions as well as position!
Rosie.
 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Another photo from Greenock, this one taken on 5 October 2008, her farewell call :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2922549320/



Almost all my others of QE2 and the tugs are taken from on board!

[Bob C.]

The pilots and tug masters round the world -
did / do most speak 'nautical language' in English?

Where did QE2 need to take the most and the fewest tugs?
Some harbours and anchorages look a good deal more 'interesting' than others -
in terms of conditions as well as position!
Rosie.
 

Rosie,
   I will venture to say that all harbor pilots speak english - its an international nautical standard.  During my time on USS NIMITZ, the only language barrier we had was the level of the pilot's English comprehension. 

Can't answer the second question; need to defer to a QE2 world traveler or crewmember.

[Twynkle]

Bob - Thank you!
It's not difficult to imagine why it's crucial to have clarity of 2-way communication,
'specially in areas where tugs have been essential!

Another thought too - if planning on bringing QE2 back to say the UK,
it may well be that she could come under her own steam
However, if she did need to come under tow....
then how many tugs would be needed - and where would they come from?
Rosie

[cunardqueen]

I remember on a Med cruise on QE2 we were due to call into Malta. As we tried to get into the harbour the strong winds made it pretty awkward and a line from the tug was attached, well a few of us standing on deck were surprised when this almighty noise of a rope snapping. It wasnt long then till Captain Bates announced to those on deck that we wouldnt be calling into Malta due to the weather but instead we would sail onto our next port of call.
 But if you ever hear a rope snapping, its a frightning sound and more so when you consider what could happen if it hit anybody!!

 

[Bob C.]

Another thought too - if planning on bringing QE2 back to say the UK,
it may well be that she could come under her own steam
However, if she did need to come under tow....
then how many tugs would be needed - and where would they come from?

Ocean-going tugs can do the job for ships not under their own power.  The lead tug can do it by itself but if there are navigation hazards an additional one at the stern is used.  Normal tugs are used to berth the ship upon arrival.

Here a photo of an ocean-going tug  towing the USS John F Kennedy into Norfolk, Virginia.  Due to restrictions in the approaches to her berth, a additional tug was added astern for entering the Chesapeake Bay.

[Twynkle]

Bob -That's interesting too!
About the size of just one tug's engine - and power!
So - how many engines of her own would QE2 need to use,
'simply' to get her to the UK - without tugs?

(Queen Elizabeth's consultant Captain got very fed up when she was anchored off Aruba -
waiting to be taken under tow for yet more repairs.
The tugs (engines?) were too small - however, that was 40 years ago!)

[holynougat]

Hello Rosie,

Tugs are only used for maneuvering, when the ship is setup the trick is to get rid of them ASAP as you need to get the ship up to a speed where she can steer herself. You cant rely on tugs for very much when the ship is going above just a few knots because so much of their power is used just to keep up!

Tug Masters do not necessarily speak english, but pilots will always speak the language and act as a liaison between the two.

QE2 had two tugs in every port (unless they were not available)  -  however, not all tugs are equal! some tugs have up to 10-000HP while others might only have a few thousand.

I recall Mumbai having to use about 5 tugs to get the ship alongside.

 

[skilly56]

The Queen Elizabeth 2 arrived on the River Forth for the first time on 13.6.1993, she berthed starboard side to on
the Houndpoint Oil Terminal, she was assisted by the Forth Tugs Houndpoint Fleet, Almond, Kelty, Duchray &
Boquhan. - Photo : Iain Forsyt (c)

This photo was in todays (March 25th) 'Maritime News Clippings', by Piet Sinke, under the heading "Oldie - From the Shoebox".

If you want to keep up to date with the 'Marine Scene' latest news, go here!
Skilly.

OOoops - 1st photo came through in .UFO format - try this one.

[Twynkle]

Thanks Skilly,

Good to hear from you!

Although there was a bit of difficulty finding the link to the photo
and Maritime News Clippings
It would be good -  if / when you get a minute
to have a 'copy and pasted' link to the latest from the marine scene

However - I found the shoebox!
http://shipfax.blogspot.com/2010/02/oldie-from-shoebox.html

And - A slideshow of tugs!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33438735@N08/show/

Rosie.

[Lynda Bradford]

Enjoyed reading the post in this topic once more, as I really like watching the tugs working alongside ships.

There are some excellent photos uploaded to the February 2019 Photo Competition  QE2 with a tug

If you have photo of QE2 with a tug post them on this topic for us all to enjoy or add the a Passenger and enthusiast memories albums

[cunardqueen]

A couple of Tug pics, taken as we came into Belfast on the Farewell to the UK cruise.
Having been on deck once as we tried to enter Malta and witnessed a tug rope snap , l knew i didn't want to be here for any great length of time .