NEWS: QM2 Hit something???

[mandiecandie5]

Has anyone else heard this yet? Just saw breaking news on BBC that the Queen Mary 2 may of hit something that was submerged in the water just 5-6 miles off Port Everglades, the ship is returning to port! Yikes! If its something big enough to cause damage to a ship wouldn't they be aware its there? :eek:

[sunflower1972]

I heard on CNN last night they were returning to Port Everglades as they felt something was wrong with the hull. Have not heard anything else since.....

[Casshew]

Queen Mary 2 forced back to port

 

The world's largest cruise ship, Queen Mary 2, has returned to port in Florida because of fears it may have hit something, damaging its propellers.

 

The Southampton-based Cunard Lines ship, with 2,500 passengers on board, had just left Fort Lauderdale when the crew reported an unusual "shudder".

 

The liner is due to set sail on a 38-day trip around South America.

Cunard said the passengers were still on board and divers were about to inspect the propeller unit.

He said: "The vessel had just left Fort Lauderdale when it was discovered that there was something wrong with the unit, known as a pod.

"The passengers are all still on board and divers are going down to inspect the pod."

 

US coastguard said the cause of the vibrations would not be known "until we take a good look".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4623312.stm

[Casshew]

Cunard Lines says more than 2,500 passengers had their vacation aboard the Queen Mary 2 delayed today after the ship had a problem with one of its propulsion motors and had to return to port.

 

A Cunard Lines spokeswoman said inspections of the ship could delay of the cruise until tomorrow evening.

 

A Coast Guard spokesman said the ship's crew reported hearing and feeling a shudder as the ship was leaving the port around 1 pm.

 

The Coast Guard said preliminary tests indicated the ship may have hit a submerged object.

 

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=23951

[westwind6371]

There are literally thousands of containers that fall off container ships all over the world each year. A lot of them float just below the surface for weeks or even months. Not a problem in the open ocean, but in the crowded approach to busy harbors, it can and has caused problems.

 

(The containers are the size of semi-trailers designed to be lifted via crane off the truck and on to the large ships.)

 

Fair winds

Dave

[mandiecandie5]

Thanks for the news and information...it just sounds so strange, I didn't realize that about the containers on cargo ships, is it more of a problem in a harbor because of the concentrated area of traffic? Can't these modern ships detect these things?! :confused:

[westwind6371]

Hi Mandie;

 

If they are floating just partially submerged, the radar will detect them sometimes, but a lot of them are submerged just below the surface and undetectable by radar, and unseen by the human eye. They are a much bigger danger to smaller boats.

 

Fair winds

Dave

[rob.potter]

The local news here in Ft. Lauderdale is saying that one of the main props hit the rock jetty while exiting the port.

 

They are now not scheduled to leave till after mid-night tonight.

 

Rob

[bdjam]

The local news here in Ft. Lauderdale is saying that one of the main props hit the rock jetty while exiting the port.

 

They are now not scheduled to leave till after mid-night tonight.

 

Rob

Cruise News Daily (www.cruisenewsdaily.com) confirms that the pod was damaged leaving port in Ft. Lauderdale. Queen Mary 2 has four, two used for steering and propulsion and two used for propulsion only (fixed) – it’s one of the ones used for propulsion that was damaged. Cunard is still trying to decide how it will affect the itinerary as it will affect the speed of the ship.