Tom has sent me the following fascinating details :
I wanted to share my experience aboard QE2 on October 8, 1988 departing from Baltimore, MD and passing Cape Henry at approx. 9 PM.
We retired to our 4 deck cabin around 10 PM and at 10:30 PM the lights went out and the ship went dead-in-the-water. Fortunately, off Cape Hatteras, NC, seas were smooth and we experienced only a gently roll.
The Captain announced by PA that everyone aboard was to remain where they were and not to move about the ship. Most passengers were enjoying a show in the theater. We used a flashlight in our cabin to re-enter the hallway and found other startled passengers milling about. Only emergency lighting was seen.
For more that 2 hours we heard constant banging and shouting, in many languages, coming from the engine room nearly beneath our mid-ship, port side cabin. Word circulated that there had been an electrical fire in the engine room in one of generator electrical switching panels. I was told that there were two of these electrical panels aboard and after nearly three hours of darkness the lights returned and power was restored underway.
The variety of languages below us seemed to come from the new international crew. The all British crew requirement had ended following the Diesel engine refit in Germany. The next morning we were back to normal and not much else was said about this emergency. However, had the seas been rougher, we would have been evacuated to other nearby vessels. I don't believe that a USCG May Day was issued.
I wonder how the new international crew would have handled this evacuation? Is there anyone else who was there that night who can comment on this event?
Looking forward to more discussions, with Tom back here.
