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QUEEN MARY 2 WEATHERS VIRTUAL STORM IN "BRISTOL FASHION"
Wageningen, The Netherlands, February 22, 2001 -- Tank tests conducted on a scale model of Cunard's newbuilding, Queen Mary 2, resulted in a triumph for the new hull and propulsion design. The 15-foot, self-propelled model weathered simulated hurricane conditions with her raked prow splitting the waves perfectly and her wake straight astern. Designers, engineers and executives are all extremely pleased with the results of the testing, which was undertaken last week at facilities of the Dutch firm MARIN.
"We are delighted that the design performed as well as we had hoped it would," said Pamela Conover, Cunard Line president and COO. "It's always a big step to actually put a model in the water and see the design become real. Transatlantic service calls for speed, safety, reliability and comfort. We designed a hybrid vessel, with classic lines above the water and very modern and innovative features below, and the design met or exceeded all our expectations," said Conover.
The design for QM2 is the first vessel to be propelled by four podded propellers extending beneath the hull. The two forward pods are fixed and the two aft pods are steerable. Utilizing this steering system, the model performed maneuvers in compliance with standards for similar vessels using different propulsion and steering systems. Two sets of stabilizers likewise performed perfectly, smoothing the model's motion to create an enviable standard of comfort on board.
After the maneuvering tests, a series of "sea-keeping" tests were performed, to discern the hull's performance in different sea conditions. Once again, the model brought smiles to the faces of the architects and designers, as it breasted a simulated 12-meter swell at a forward speed of 18 knots with almost no water over the bow.
"That's a hurricane condition," enthused Gerry Ellis, Manager of Newbuildings and Special Projects for Cunard Line. "She parted the sea perfectly. Absolutely brilliant!" stated Ellis.
Serge Toxopeus, Consultant Manoeuvring at MARIN, was no less enthusiastic, though perhaps a bit more clinical in his analysis: "Overall, it can be concluded that after completion of the hydrodynamic studies a reliable and feasible design was obtained," he said.
Congrats to Gerry and company from CruiseTalk.
Joe at TravelPage.com
quote:Originally posted by joe at travelpage:Here's an update from Cunard....QUEEN MARY 2 WEATHERS VIRTUAL STORM IN "BRISTOL FASHION"Wageningen, The Netherlands, February 22, 2001 -- Tank tests conducted on a scale model of Cunard's newbuilding, Queen Mary 2, resulted in a triumph for the new hull and propulsion design. The 15-foot, self-propelled model weathered simulated hurricane conditions with her raked prow splitting the waves perfectly and her wake straight astern. Designers, engineers and executives are all extremely pleased with the results of the testing, which was undertaken last week at facilities of the Dutch firm MARIN."We are delighted that the design performed as well as we had hoped it would," said Pamela Conover, Cunard Line president and COO. "It's always a big step to actually put a model in the water and see the design become real. Transatlantic service calls for speed, safety, reliability and comfort. We designed a hybrid vessel, with classic lines above the water and very modern and innovative features below, and the design met or exceeded all our expectations," said Conover. The design for QM2 is the first vessel to be propelled by four podded propellers extending beneath the hull. The two forward pods are fixed and the two aft pods are steerable. Utilizing this steering system, the model performed maneuvers in compliance with standards for similar vessels using different propulsion and steering systems. Two sets of stabilizers likewise performed perfectly, smoothing the model's motion to create an enviable standard of comfort on board. After the maneuvering tests, a series of "sea-keeping" tests were performed, to discern the hull's performance in different sea conditions. Once again, the model brought smiles to the faces of the architects and designers, as it breasted a simulated 12-meter swell at a forward speed of 18 knots with almost no water over the bow. "That's a hurricane condition," enthused Gerry Ellis, Manager of Newbuildings and Special Projects for Cunard Line. "She parted the sea perfectly. Absolutely brilliant!" stated Ellis. Serge Toxopeus, Consultant Manoeuvring at MARIN, was no less enthusiastic, though perhaps a bit more clinical in his analysis: "Overall, it can be concluded that after completion of the hydrodynamic studies a reliable and feasible design was obtained," he said.Congrats to Gerry and company from CruiseTalk.Joe at TravelPage.com
I just received the new brochure for the Queen Mary2, it didn' have prices on it since the ship isn't finished. The idea is for past Cunard passengers or Clun Memembers to start planing for her arrival. I guess if you have to ask the prices you really can't afford it., that will be me. I am sure there will be no early booking discounts or AAA/AARP coupons/discounts. Just for the facts, she will have a three level lobby, 23 decks, and will weigh at a grand total of 150,000 tons, now soon to be the worlds largest afloat.I don'd think anyone will top that? THe cost of building her $870,000 million dollars, that alot of Titanics complete with staff and crew with the movie thrown in. Alan H. Miller shipahoy@bellsouth.net
<http://queenmary2.cjb.net>
Those who sailed on the maiden voyage of the original Queen Mary in May 1937 can qualify for passage on the maiden voyage of QM 2 at the same price as he/she paid on original QM. Anyone qualify?
She really was very impressive in the seaway.
PC, That website is a private one and nothing to do with Cunard but it is very good and I help the webmaster where I can to maintain its accuracy.
quote:Originally posted by Rex:If the ship can acheive a speed ot 30+ knots, will passenger be able to stand on the balconies at top speed, does anyone know?
I understand that the deck of the QE2 always has a gale blowing on the Transatlantic runs, and today she normally does a max of 25 knots. I don't suppose the QM2 will be run any faster?
But I guess that those balconies will sure be breezey! However, they will be ideal for med cruises etc.
QE2 was mistakenly built without expansion joints in her decks, and I wondered if QM2 would have them. I am also curious about QM2's bulbous bow, will she have an enormous bulbous bow below the waterline, or will it be slightly less pronounced than your average cruise ship?
Will QM2 be designed with an observation lounge forward?
Will there be a slight curve in her hull like Queen Mary so that when you look down the length of her cooridors....you cannot see the end because of the slight curve, or will she be straight as an arrow like modern cruise ships?
Perhaps the builders could use riviets in some areas of her hull to give the image of a strong luxury liner? I thing that "rivits" on parts of the hull, even if they are done for esthetic reasons would be a nice touch of nastalgia (sp?).
I have many more questions but perhaps another time.
It would be a pretty major oversight. Do you know if the designers missed them out, or were they on the plans but the yard just didn't build them?
But, IMHO, putting in a phony riveted section in QM2 just to generate nostalgia would not do!
2. As to expansion joints, think of the flexing of a vessel that tall. On Rembrandt there was a "slight" flexing. Now mentally extend that spacing up another hundred feet or so - formidable! We could be talking many inches of flex. I agree desginers of earthquake-resistant structures do just that, but on a ship approximately 4 times the GRT of the Rotterdam V? I dunno.
3. I note that use of QM2 in world cruises is in the cards, seems logical.
This means round the cape(s?). As a matter of personal information, how many current world cruising ships now "have to round the Horn"? And Good Hope?
You probably read one of my posts. I mentioned that I asked Captain Robin Woodall why there were no expansion joints on QE2 and his response was that they were left out by mistake...that QE2 should have been built with them. Because QE2 does not have the expansion joints, in really rough weather, parts of her superstructure can crack from the twisting of the hull. I'd love to hear from Gerry though regarding this.
I didn't mean phony rivits....Use real rivits in "some" parts of the hull rather that the weldings.
I would really be surprised if the expansion joints were "mistakenly" left out. My understanding is that the reason expansion joints were not used on QE2 is because in addition to the hull the superstructure was also considered part of the ship's strength structure.
Remember, QE2 incorporated more aluminum alloy than any other British liner and this made the ship distinctive in many ways including the addition of an extra deck and a draught reduced by several feet.
I know where you're comming from Joe, cause I've heard the same thing regarding her design, and the use of aluminum. I've also heard that the QE2's hull is among the most successful hulls, hydrodynamically speaking, ever built into a liner or cruise ship.
I would still like to hear what Gerry has to say about the expansion joints.
Considering the difficulties that were revealed in the show, regarding the designing and building "Voyager", one can only imagine that a bigger ship with an Ocean going hull (QM2) will be an Engineers nightmare, let alone incredibly expensive?
I think Carnival/Cunard may have bitten off more than they can chew? Comments please...
quote:Originally posted by joe at travelpage:Tank tests conducted on a scale model of Cunard's newbuilding, Queen Mary 2, resulted in a triumph for the new hull and propulsion design.
The original Queen Mary performed very well in tank tests. However, she was later found to role by up 45 degrees! I hope that modern tank tests and computer simulations are more reliable?
QE2 does have expansion joints in the Aluminium superstructure but not in the steel hull. There was no oversight, I'm afraid the comments you received were not quite correct.She is indeed one of the most succesful hull's ever designed and became the basis of QM2's hull design. The differences include a larger bulbous bow, a hybrid cruiser/transom stern and long skeg with obvious differences for the podded arrangement.QE2 has never had any problems with steel cracking but has had with the Aluminium superstructure, inspite of the expansion joints.QM2 was not originally designed with three funnels and as we (Cunard in Miami) had no input to the TV show, whatever they showed was pure speculation. I have the original designs in my office and I count only one funnel ! - I wish you could imagine how incredibly frustrating all the wild speculation and so called facts floating around can be....As for the tank tests, todays tests are so incredibly different from the old ones as to be comparing wind tunnel testing for a Sopwith Camel and a Boeing 777. The facility at Marin is one of the most impressive of any Research Institute I've ever seen. Our model included working stabilisers as the real thing will have. They are very effective and stopped any significant roll nearly completely. The original Queen Mary was launched without stabilizers and was not fitted with them until 1958.Malcolm, I would not pretend to suggest that there are no challenges in the design process with the hull and power arrangements but they are anticipated and defeatable. These are the main reasons that the Project is taking about a year longer than normal and is the most expensive, but I must reiterate - there have been no surprises so far and all is going according to plan and within budget.
Gerry, what about the rivits idea for asthetic purposes? I think it would be a nice touch. Not fake rivits, but real ones used instead of welds in a few select areas to give a nastalgic image of strength.
Is there an Observation lounge?
quote:Originally posted by Gerry:QM2 was not originally designed with three funnels...I wish you could imagine how incredibly frustrating all the wild speculation and so called facts floating around can be...
Gerry, thanks for setting the record straight. Because the 'facts' about the QM2 have been emerging pretty slowly, speculation is bound to be rife. I put it all down to excitement. Forgive us! Better still, please keep us fully informed (as best you can, anyway)
Yes there will be an observation lounge overlooking the bow.As for the idea of the rivets, it was decided very early on that there would be nothing faux about this ship. She is the real thing. This is one of the reasons behind the single funnel and design of the hull and superstructure following function as a Transatlantic Liner. We are not building a cruise ship to look like a Liner, we are building a Liner.
Will there be any artifacts from the original Queen Mary onboard the QM2? Who will christen the ship?
quote:Originally posted by Barryboat:Who will christen the ship?
I'm available! After all, Queen Mary is not. Maybe Queen Elizabeth will have the honour?
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