QE2 lifeboats and tenders

[Trevor Harris]

Shes still QE2, but just how much QE2 she is, remains to be seen.

Atleast she still has the awesome lines. Just a question, were the lifeboats original? Original as delivered or changed during her renovations?

[Thomas Hypher]

In my very limited knowledge, most of QE2's lifeboats are original or be it refurbished over the years (to meet new safety regulations etc) because they are of the open to the elements type. Four of the tender lifeboats are either original or were new in the 1970s or 1980s and finally a couple of the lifeboat tenders (which were interesting sea boats when at an anchor port    ) would have been added during the 1990s as they are of the modern lifeboat tender variety - similar to the lifeboat tenders QM2 has had since her construction in 2004.

[Twynkle]

Re: Alpha and Beta - QE2's Large Tenders fitted from 1983 until 1994

Hi Thomas
You'll Find some tenders and life-boat history here
And more via the search window at top left of the home page!
I'm sorry that I can't make the link via wifi at the minute.
All the best from
Rosie, missing Lone Gerd in Kotor!

[Thomas Hypher]

Silly me I glanced over and forgot alpha and beta only because they were removed decades ago. I was describing her final lifeboat/tender setup in my limited knowledge for Trevor.

[Trevor Harris]

I know about her alpha and beta tenders I was just wondering if the basic regular ones were original to the ship. Apparently so.. 

[Twynkle]

Rob -
I've only just noticed (sorry ) - QE2 has No Tenders, or davits on the top of the web page.
Not sure what to say - except, please - might there be any chance that they could reappear for Christmas?
R.

[Rob Lightbody]

Rob -
I've only just noticed (sorry ) - QE2 has No Tenders, or davits on the top of the web page.
Not sure what to say - except, please - might there be any chance that they could reappear for Christmas?
R.

I don't know what you mean?!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I don't know what you mean?!

I can see them all... red one and white ones.

[Rob Lightbody]

I have a question about QE2's lifeboats.

If I remember correctly, in an emergency situation, they were to be lowered to the Upper deck, where the large windows would be opened allowing the passengers to step aboard.  Is that right?

My question is, how often was this actually tested?  I've never seen a single photo of a boat lowered to the Upper deck like this.

[Rod]

They were tested in that way from time to time.
Not done too often as replacing the covering to the doors in the side could cause problems.
Also, in some cases I believe, boats would be lowered to Boat deck, bowsed in and pax led to boat deck to board.

[Twynkle]

Rob, I have a photo of one of the tenders with crew taken from Boat Deck where the crew were working on it... just needs time and I’ll find it for you.

[Lynda Bradford]

I have a question about QE2's lifeboats.

If I remember correctly, in an emergency situation, they were to be lowered to the Upper deck, where the large windows would be opened allowing the passengers to step aboard.  Is that right?

My question is, how often was this actually tested?  I've never seen a single photo of a boat lowered to the Upper deck like this.

Does anyone know in what circumstances boarding lifeboats from the Upper Deck windows in the event of an emergency would be used. I am thinking they had to plan for all eventualities including the Boat Deck access being blocked. 

[Willum]

Policy is to muster indoors out of the weather wherever possible. Also if everyone were to muster on the boat deck it would be overwhelmed by people not allowing space to lower and prepare the boats. Embarking from the upper deck windows however would have been, er, challenging.

[Chris Thompson]

On a side note here, the upper deck doors in the Casino were used during the 1990 refit to load
the new Casino equipment onboard from a shipping container being held in place by a crane.
The prospect of entering said container to retrieve items was downright terrifying!!!!!!