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QM2 WC hold up at Port Said?

cunardaddict

By cunardaddict,
in Cunard Line

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fg_hb

fg_hb

Posted
Posted

QM2 was on anchor since yesterday evening. I looked to the channel a few times today but there was only northbound traffic. But since a few minutes ago QM2 is moving towards the channel. Don't know if there's a delay now.

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Sail the seas

Sail the seas

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Posted (edited)
I think ships generally go through the Suez in an escorted convoy, so anchoring for a while was probably routine.

 

Roy

 

It is true they go through in convoy but QM2 arrived nearly 24 hours ago. They are due in Petra tomorrow 22nd. I believe the distance from their present position is at least 250 Nm so they do seem to have an unscheduled delay.

Edited by Sail the seas
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cunardaddict

cunardaddict

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Posted (edited)
I think ships generally go through the Suez in an escorted convoy, so anchoring for a while was probably routine.

 

Roy

 

That's correct. In 2013 we arrived at 9pm and went trough from 4am to 2pm, mainly with thick fog.

Edited by cunardaddict
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Salacia

Salacia

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Posted

"A partial collapse occurred at a precipitation basin in the new Suez Canal lane due to an overload of material dredged from the lane under construction, according to a Monday statement by the Suez Canal Authority..." quoted from http://www.thecairopost.com/news/133907/news/precipitation-basin-in-new-suez-canal-partially-collapses-no-casualities

 

No mention of an effect - if any, this would have on marine traffic in the Suez.

 

Perhaps a contributing factor to the delay? (I really don't know.)

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costalb2002

costalb2002

Posted
Posted (edited)
At 2230 UT they were finally transiting the canal so a port may have to be missed, unfortunate if it is Petra as that is one of the highlights of this leg of the trip.

 

From tweets of people on board it seems that they cancelled the Aqaba call. That means : after Rome on jan 17th the next port would be Fujairah on jan 28th, after 11 days at sea: quite a lot even on QM2. They already cancelled, before departure, 2 stops in Egypt for security reason offering Aqaba and Fujairah as alternate ports of call. This is understandable and acceptable.

I know very well this route and these ports : Aqaba for Petra is outstanding and the industrial port of Khor Fakkan ( for Fujairah) is simply horrible, with nearly nothing to do and see. They have also missed ( transiting night time) the wonderful experience of Suez canal transit , that is the highlight of any cruise from the Mediterranean to Red sea .

To compensate at least they could have easily done Aqaba on 23 jan cancelling Fujairah. Aqaba to Dubai is 2744 nautical miles : leaving Aqaba at 8 pm on jan 23 and travelling at just 21 knots you would arrive Dubai on perfect schedule. And with happy passengers.

I can imagine passengers just booked on the Southampton / Dubai leg : 20 days with stops in Malaga/Barcelona and Rome : no Egypt ( Cairo and Luxor, for those who booked when Egypt was in the itinerary) no Suez canal experience, no Petra , fantastic ! And 11 days at sea ! Fujairah is a waste of time , the only nice escursion is the one to the mountain wadis . I would be VERY disappointed.

Edited by costalb2002
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cunardaddict

cunardaddict

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Posted (edited)

Please do realize that from tonight on the ship will travel in complete darkness. All windows blinded, all outside areas except deck8 aft closed from 6pm to 7am. This will be an unforgettable journey for all passengers - and certainly Cunard will loose many of them for future business.

 

The first and last leg of QM2s WC is becoming a rather unattractive journey. All POIs are passed in the dark or in 150 mls distance, no safe ports for more than a week. I have done both legs and I shall never ever do this again.

Edited by cunardaddict
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cunardaddict

cunardaddict

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The Egypt ports of call were cancelled on the last leg of WC on QM2 in 2014 so Cunard knew it was on the cards. Aqaba was substituted with a great but very hot trip to Petra - several km walking in the heat but wouldn't have missed it.

 

Next year QM2 will go around Cape Hoorn instead - a perfect decision. But there due to political incompetence of two governments we will have a long period of sea days again.

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Salacia

Salacia

Posted
Posted
around Cape Horn and hopefully by 2017 the new Panama Canal will be completed and QM2 can sail through there.[/quote

 

QM2 cannot pass under the bridge

 

:confused:According to these two reports, QM2 will be able to transit the canal.

"...Some of the industry’s largest ships, such as Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-, Freedom- and Voyager-class vessels and Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Magic and Carnival Dream, will still be too wide or tall to transit the canal (ship height is limited by the Bridge of the Americas, which passes over the canal).

 

But many others will, including Cunard’s flagship, the Queen Mary 2..." copied from http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-widened-Panama-Canal-will-accommodate-bigger-cruise-ships/

 

"...At 180 feet wide and 1,400 feet long, the new lock chambers will allow such iconic ships as Cunard's Queen Mary 2 to transit the canal for the first time..." copied from http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2013/10/24/panama-canal-cruise-celebrity-millennium/3178983/

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roscoe39 Great Review Rare

roscoe39

Posted
Posted (edited)
Cunard ships are not visiting any ports of Argentina.

 

I don't know that, that is due to incompetence on behalf of the governments. I think it is a much

deeper issue, but I can see what you were referring to now. thanks for the clarification.

Edited by roscoe39
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Underwatr

Underwatr

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Posted (edited)

Technically there is a clearance of a couple of feet under the Bridge of the Americas at low tide but the regulations do not permit vessels with that height. A special exemption can be obtained but the timing of the transit to coincide with the tides would be a factor as well.

 

Bridge of the Americas Height (high tide): 201 feet

QM2 height above keel: 236 feet 2 inches - QM2 (nominal) draft: 32 feet 8 inches = 203 feet 6 inches height above water

 

Here's the actul text of the regulation:

e. Maximum Height

The allowable height for any vessel transiting the Canal or entering the Port of

Balboa at any state of the tide is 190 feet (57.91 m) measured from the waterline

to its highest point. With prior permission from the Transit Operations Division

Executive Manager, height may be permitted to 205 feet (62.5 m) on a

case-by-case basis, with passage at low water (MLWS) at Balboa. Maximum

Height Restrictions are due to the tide and the unpredictable upward movement

of water from swells, surges, waves, etc., and maintenance equipment

suspended beneath the bridge at Balboa.

http://www.pancanal.com/eng/op/notices/2014/N01-2014-Rev01.pdf , page 4

Edited by Underwatr
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