I also wonder if the “black” stern will have windows or will it be a massive object. If compared to QE2 then QM2’s stern is gigantic and I can’t imagine that there won’t be a large window in it. Has anyone got an idea if the stern will be massive or not? The deck plans show there won’t be a public area there.

Best, Onno

quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:
Keitaro,
I think you are right. I don't think you are looking at the final product for the stern. In fact, that rounded section you are seeing might be completely internal to house some sort of engine component. The whole thing might be covered over by steel which will form the true look of the aft end.

Ernie

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I don’t think so Ernie, what you see is what you get in this case.
Here is a picture of her deck plans that show the corners of this square box. In the picture of the virtual tour on the Cunard site you can also see the corners on the bottom part of the stern. My guess is that the round section is simply a “stick on” stern for beauty like some one wearing jewelry to be more attractive. When I was doing my own artist impressions I came to this point as well. Wondering if this square part was there or wasn’t going to be their. Since the rounded stern hovers a bit above the water line this square piece will be visible so I decided to make my impressions from angels that would not clearly show this part.

Best, Onno

Makes sense too.

Ernie

[ 02-01-2003: Message edited by: eroller ]

True, the shape you can see here on the picture is really the definitive one of the outside hull will be.
Waterline should be more or less just below the rounded part, where you can see the different tones separation line on the flat stern part.

...and it doesn't seem to look like a very hydrodynamic piece.

Actually, this is the contrary. This shape is more hydrodynamic than a classical round stern.
This has several advantages, to simplify:
- better output of the propellers environment,
- less suction from the stern,
- less drag,
- induces a better wake coefficient,
- increases the waterline lenght (better Froude's number parameters),
- all of that means a better output of the hull (higher speed or more fuel efficiency or a combination of both) and slaming effects are diminished in moderated rought seas since the rear end of the waterline is a breaking verticale and not a nearly horizontale or angular line in case of classical rounded stern (in case of very rought seas, slaming will likely be anyway rather significant in both cases).

quote:

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Originally posted by Vaccaro:
Actually, this is the contrary. This shape is more hydrodynamic than a classical round stern.

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I don’t doubt that her hull design is quite efficient. Although QM2 has a retro appearance her technology is quite up-to-date. I belief in February 2001 a 15 foot model of the QM2’s hull was tested her in the Netherlands with the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands or MARIN. The results where quite good and showed the ship was efficient and could easily sail a hurricane storm (though I would not like to be onboard then)

Efficient or not the stern just looks slightly odd. I’m still wondering what for areas are behind the curved parts of the stern

Best, Onno

[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: Onno ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Keitaro:
I believe more "aft" will be added. In Onno's and other drawings of the QM2 shows a "squre" stern and no round/circular thing sticking out of the stern. It is like using puzzle pieces to make a picture except parts to bulid a ship.

Here is a picture.

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Sorry I had to reply to this one...

As far as being an engine compartment, that's highly unlikely. For stability reasons, the diesel engine generators on any ship must be about amidships. Conversely, the area in this picture will likely house the mooring deck and crew spaces.

Secondly, working in a shipyard now, I don't think I can stress the importance of minimizing the number of plates that must be formed into the multiple developable shapes, as this is a timely, costly, and difficult process. Therefore, to construct such a well rounded compartment, only to have it lie inside the ship would be incredibly wasteful.

Finally, note that the squarish area is not open, as are most blocks (or "superlifts" depending on who you ask) that have been welded to the structure are. Again, the shipyard wouldn't go through the trouble of welding on full plates to temporarily enclose this area if not needed.

CGT

[ 02-10-2003: Message edited by: CGT ]