1984: QE2 refit 1 to 16 December

[Lynda Bradford]

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. I have added links to forum topics with more information and discussions

Please do not copy or use without Michael Gallagher's permission

Date: 1 – 16 December 1984
(QE2 entered dry dock on 2 December until 15 December)
Main Contractor: Lloyd Werft Shipyard, Bremerhaven, Germany
Total Cost: £5.2 million
(£3.4 million on British subcontractors and £1.8 million on German)
Captain: B Arnott


On the technical side the main contractor was paid £1,018,905; subcontractors received £340,578 while £108,362 was spent on materials, £55,633 on fees and £20,000 on freight. For the hotel furnishing side £241,128 was spent on the main contractor; £93,674 on subcontractors and £192,976 on materials.

[Lynda Bradford]

Passenger Areas

Columbia Restaurant:
Project Manager: Dennis Lennon (co-ordinating designer for QE2’s 1960’s design)
Cost of refurbishment:  £174, 000

Decor:  The yellow and brown colour scheme was replaced with muted shades or pink, with beige and grey and suede walls and mirrors to create an elegant luxury effect. 

“The new scheme was reflected in the window furnishings, table linens and carpeting – the latter featuring a bold, square design in pinks, beige and grey, created exclusively for Cunard. Redesigned ‘Alcantara’ suede fabric bulkheads were perhaps the most striking new feature, with plain or tinted mirrors alternating with white treillages. New artwork and upward-facing light fittings and individual lamps on each table were also added. White pleated window blinds with pink trim were hung.”

The Britannia Cup presented to Samuel Cunard in 1840, was refurbished and placed at the entrance to the Columbia Restaurant as a centrepiece.

Lighting also received work as part of a £20,000 project with the Tables of the World Restaurant.

The capacity of the Restaurant was increased to enable QE2 to offer a one-sitting arrangement for all meals on most voyages in 1985.

Tables of the World: Lighting received work as part of a £20,000 project with the Columbia Restaurant.

Princess Grill Lounge: The Lounge on One deck was refurbished.

Club Lido: The dance floor was renewed with specially designed stainless steel accousti-metal tiles which accommodated light fittings reflecting the under lit dance floor thus providing a dazzling display of coloured lights.

Computer Learning Centre: The Computer Centre was expanded to include 16 IBM personal computers. The expansion cost £13,500 while £30,000 was spent on new computer equipment.

Golden Door Health Spa:

In July 1984, in response to overwhelming demand, major refurbishing work was carried out around the indoor pool area on Seven Deck. The area was equipped with gents and ladies saunas with changing rooms, a massage area, sunbeds and a new gymnasium with new equipment including exercise bicycles, a treadmill, weight equipment and dumbells from 3 lbs to 40 lbs.

Cinema: £5,000 was spent on the stereo Dolby system.

New Bank: A branch of American Express was built on Two deck.

Sports Area: A new sports area was built at a cost of £5,000.

Public Toilets: £8,000 was spent on refurbishment.

[Lynda Bradford]

Passenger Accommodation

Penthouses: Suites 8108 and 8110 received new bathrooms at a cost of £20,000.
The remaining Penthouses on Signal and Sports decks had jacuzzi bathtubs installed.

Staterooms: Cabins 8204 / 8206 / 8208 and 8210 on Boat Deck received new fitted furniture.

30 of the suite rooms and staterooms on One and Two decks were refurbished at a cost of £101,500 and had television and video equipment installed.

A further 70 staterooms were refurbished.

[Lynda Bradford]

Behind the Scenes and Technical Scenes

A new bulbous bow was fitted replacing the existing one that had suffered collision damage earlier in the year.

The air-conditioning system was upgraded at a cost of £900,000 including the installation of 11 air handling unites and 18 fan coil units.

Various pieces of machinery and equipment were upgraded and refurbished with a number of improvements being made. £280,000 was spent on the economiser tubes while the turbine thrust alarms and boiler draught fan received work.

Damage: Just prior to departing the drydock surveyors discovered that the shell plating had been dented at E strake between frames 182 and 192 on the port side in the way of No 6 S W Ballast tank. The date and hour of the damage was unknown but the indentation was 1½ - 2 inches deep and stretched for approximately 15 feet. The damage would be repaired during the re-engining.

Return to Service

Unfortunately, unforeseen technical problems developed prior to QE2’s departure from Bremerhaven. These included the discovery of a small crack in the outer plates beneath the waterline, last minute problems with air-conditioning and other minor hitches.

As a result, QE2 was 24 hours late arriving in Southampton which meant that the two-day English Channel Party Cruise, due to depart on 14 December, had to be cancelled.

Negotiations continued with Lloyd Werft with regard to late delivery, workmen warranties and other guaranteed defects resulting from this refit up through 1985.

[Lynda Bradford]

Continuing the QE2 refit and repairs themed topics with the refit that took place between 1 to 16 December 1984. 

There is such a lot of interesting information that we can share thanks to Michael Gallagher allowing The QE2 Story  to use the facts he has researched. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Excellent compilation, Lynda and Michael, and a very valuable resource for the QE2Story.

Thank you very much for your work in assembling all these facts and figures!

[June Ingram]

Yes, indeed, many thanks to Lynda and Michael for adding all of this very informative and valuable information to The QE2 Story.  It is a tremendous amount of work, and it is very much appreciated !   

[Clydebuilt1971]

Can I add my thanks to both also!!

Loving this stuff.

One of the paragraphs mentions "boiler draught fan" - did QE2 have a pressurised stokehold when she was a steamship or did her boilers all have individual FD fans?

Would be interested to know whose fans were fitted when she was built (Howden are famous for boiler FD fans)

Gav

[Rod]

Individual forced draft fans

[Clydebuilt1971]

Individual forced draft fans

Thanks Rod - I guess a pressurised stokehold is a bit old hat!!

Gav