The QE2 Story would like to thank Michael Gallagher for giving his permission to extract information from QE2 historical information he had compiled and allowing us to make this information available on the QE2 Story Forum.
Date: 13 to 16 March 1983
Cost: Refit: £205,920; boiler work £250,000
Captain: B Arnott
The opportunity was taken to undertake a mini-refit on QE2 during her two full days in Hong Kong during the 1983 Circle Pacific voyage.
Hundreds of Chinese workmen came on board to undertake the work and remained on board throughout her stay. The Six Deck working alleyway and crew staircases were lined with Chinese setting up stalls to sell goods to the crew.
Mechanical WorkQE2 had been experiencing many problems with her turbines after her return to service from the Falklands. The problem was essentially one of the uniqueness of the turbines within QE2 designed to perform a task not required of any other passenger or cargo vessel in the world.
In Hong Kong, among other things, the transverse alignment of the starboard HP turbine was corrected and operated well within limits afterwards. Vertical and Transverse alignment on all four turbines was continuously monitored and carried out on every possible occasion. The turbines gave no cause for concern after the March 1983 adjustments.
In addition one of the three boilers was worked on at a cost of £250,000.
Other WorkThe feed pumps received modifications.
Painting
The hull, superstructure and funnel were repainted by hundreds of workmen. Existing paint was chipped off items such as lifeboat davits and elsewhere prior to them being repainted.
A full topside coating was applied. This did not solve the problem of the look of the grey hull and the ship’s appearance still left much to be desired. A Cunard Board report dated 16 April 1983 stated:
“We have not to date been successful in developing a corrective system with our own people to alleviate the ‘weeping’ of rust on the hull side”.
New Launch ProjectThe aft deck locations for the two new cruise launches (due to be fitted in the November 1983 refit) were strengthened and cable installation work was carried out in preparation for the installation of the davits and launches. See also
1983 Refit Alpha and Beta Tenders added Passenger AreasD Stairway ceilings and handrails were cleaned.
The teak decking aft was re-caulked and other cosmetic repairs to the outdoor decks were undertaken. These had been the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.
