Dubai Drydocks World chairman Khamis Juma Buamim announced this week that QE2, the former Cunard flagship that has been laid up in Dubai since 2008 will be leaving Dubai in mid-October and head to Asia where it will be converted into a 500-room floating hotel. Plans for the project were first announced in January 2013, with Dubai-based Drydocks World taking over management of the 45-year old vessel from Dubai World's investment arm Istithmar.

At a press conference, Buamin said that the ownership of the vessel would be transferred to a new entity called QE2 Shipping LLC, based out of & owned by Dubai. He said that all necessary registry documentation and requied insurance had been completed. Most importantly, he was able to confirm that the QE2 had been brought back to class under the Lloyds Register.

On the Technical side, teams from Drydocks World and Oceanic Group have been working to bring the vessel back into class so that she will be able to sail on her own steam to the Far East. An onboard cre of 32 have worked on the first two phases of the project beginning with an overall survey which was essential for the vessel after a long lay-up. Following this, a number of activities were undertaken on the vessel including hull & structural checks, steel repairs & renewals, ballast tank, air conditioning, sea suction & cooling system inspections, pumping out, cleaning and steel renewal in deep tanks, overhauling of stabilizers and bow thrusters, cleaning of diesel oil tanks, sewage tanks and other tanks & safety checks, repairs and upgrades. The overhaul of her engines had begun is currently well underway according to Baumin.

At the press conference, Buamin outlined the next steps in the project which included the following:

Renovation and transformation - A number of shipyards (Rong Sheng, Cosco, China Merchant and China Shipping) were invited to Dubai for ship inspection and their technical teams are now finalizing and preparing work bids based on these inspections and reviews of the ship. The winning shipyard selected to convert the former liner into a hotel/resort will be announced in mid-August in Shanghai where the work is expected to be done.

Interior and concept design - A number of international designer houses including Benoy, Francis Leung of Hong Kong, Ong & Ong, Wilson Associates and Jeday Associates have been invited to submit their plans for the interior design of the ship as a hotel. Some changes will be made to the original plans which were envisaged and it has been decided that the QE2 will be an all-suite hotel with suite sizes varying between 60 and 150 square meters. Some larger suites are intended for long stay residences.

Requests for proposals have already been sent to these design houses & the intention is that submitted designs will be placed on the ‘qe2hotels’ website where public opinion will be invited against set criteria to choose the best design.

Memorabilia - The memorabilia will be removed from the vessel and shipped to Singapore and stored in a specially secured warehouse. These will then be reassembled after renovation of the vessel is completed and the curation process of placement in the ship will begin in line with the interior and concept designs.

Based on the new timeline for completion of the technical aspects in Dubai HE confirmed that a tentative date had been set for a gala sail off party in Dubai to bid farewell to the QE2 on October 18. She is then expected to reach Singapore on Nov 1 where she will stay for 3 days before proceeding to Hong Kong for another 3 days and thereafter leave for the selected shipyard in China to complete her transformation.

In his address, Buamim said “Over the last few months we have put a lot of effort and work into this project in planning and negotiation and our overall plans for the QE2 are well on track. We have surmounted all of the challenges placed before us and been able to transform these to opportunities. We are proud and privileged in being part of this project “The QE2-New Life”-The project in which shaping the future becomes reality and is moving ahead well according to plan. We have been working in a true collaborative and cooperative manner with our stakeholders and despite the extremely hectic and difficult situations that we have faced both our strategic and action plans are totally aligned with what is to be- We will deliver an ICONIC project for the world to romance and talk about for many many years to come.”

“Some really deep thought and strategic management planning have gone into this project. We have moved forward in a holistic and calculated manner in order to ensure that the product positioning is correct, the brand name is strengthened and the implementation and the execution taken to complete the project is simple, realistic and cost effective. Rest assured that a lot of work has been done in preparing the vessel for the next stage’, he added.

[ 07-30-2013: Message edited by: Neil - Ex P. & O. S. N. Company. ]

She will need modernization to be a comfortable and successful hotel, but then she will not be the QE2 anymore.

[ 10-16-2013: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]

quote:

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Originally posted by joe at travelpage:
hmm...

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http://travelswithanthony.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/qe2-on-board-crew-unpaid-and-stranded-on-the-ship/