Tuesday, 18th November 2008 - 12:13CET

Grand welcome for the QE 2

Cunard's famous cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is in Grand Harbour on a stop over on its last journey from Southampton to Dubai, where it will start a new life as a hotel.

The ship was given a welcome fit for a queen, with a salute fired from the Saluting Battery while tug boats celebrated with their water cannon.

MaltaPost published a commemorative stamp set and a special hand postmark marking the ship's last visit was used at Valletta Waterfront.

Queen Elizabeth 2 was launched in 1967.

Picture: Dave Jackson

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Rachel Galea (on 20/11/08)

QE2 is named after Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (God rest her soul), wife of King Geoge VI

James De Giorgio (on 20/11/08)

To David Scerri, no dave, the ship was named after a queen elizabeth (no numbers attached) and was named 2 because there was already a queen elizabeth (ship) before. check out this site to verify:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7710343.stm

To G. Falzon, ok I admit my error :o) thanks for pointing it out!

John Alex Iles (on 20/11/08)

@Mario Muscat
I suspect that "il Kamra tal-Bejt" you refer to is nothing but the first control room used by the British Navy to control movement of sea traffic in Grand Harbour ( seeing that it is on top of Lascaris Building which housed Naval intelligence & Comunications).
Upon independence in1964 and subsequent passing of Valletta Port Control function to Civil authorities, and eventual departure of British Naval Forces it no longer had any use.

John D. Farrugia (on 20/11/08)

Brings back the memories when most of the lads were much much more healthier. I remember some Arctic and Transatlantic journies back in '84. Although QE2 never made it to MDD, a bunch of skilled workers were sent to perform refurbishment works on this luxery liner. To date, 5 out of 12 of these workers died of asbestos; others are certified to be suffering asbestosia. Later we found out that such a task was refused by many foreign docks including Germany.

bryan sullivan (on 19/11/08)

the ship was named QE2 to replace the original QE. The present Queen Elizabeth would have roman numerals following her name ie. II and not the arabic 2.

paul camilleri (on 19/11/08)

where is the maltese flag ?

G. Falzon (on 19/11/08)

to James De Giorgio: dear friend, you are in error! When a vessel enters a local harbour it should fly the Maltese Maritime flag only if it is registered in Valletta. Else the National Maltese flag should be flown. Refer also to what John Alex Iles rightly writes below.

Mario Muscat (on 19/11/08)

Why does Malta's finest and most impressive view of the Grand Harbour has to be spoilt by the ' KAMRA TAL BEJT' of one of the buildings below the bastions and its chimey???? ( as seen in the picture)

Is this room so essential that it has been left to ruin the beautiful view from the Upper Barrakka Gardens?

It is simply an eyesore and should be removed.

David Scerri (on 19/11/08)

to james de giorgio, the QE2 does refer to the current queen of england, their have only been two queen elizebeths, and yes as you might guess what the first one was called, there is a clue in the question, ok time is up................Queen Elizebeth the first.

James De Giorgio (on 19/11/08)

@ g.falzon; as far as I know, if you enter Maltese waters, you must always have the Maltese Maritime flag!

James De Giorgio (on 19/11/08)

Queen Elizabeth 2 does not refer to the current queen of England, but rather to the wife of a previous king!

John alex Iles (on 19/11/08)

@J.Brincat
Some twenty odd years ago the then Malta Drydocks had bid and was on the short list for re-engining of this magnificent vessel ( Ripping out the original steam plant and installing more economical diesels instead). The snag was it was dubious if the new draft after installing all the new tonnage on board would be enough for the vessel to clear the sill at dock no.6. That is we were certain that the vessel could go into dock but uncertain if it could go out. So sadly enough it was M.D.D. who turned down the contract and not Cunard who had to take the vessel to Germany.

Tony Cassar (on 19/11/08)

@ Joseph Brincat...

The way you managed to use such vivid imagination to stretch the argument in a political way, quite simply fascinates me.

And BTW, you've forgotten to mention Sirius Black who happens to be Harry Potter's godfather.

Nick Pace Debono (on 19/11/08)

Great photo of the beautiful QE2 in our wonderful Grand Harbour...i cannot understand why some people can be so negative and mention negative aspects of this visit...Anyway...Nice!

Joseph Brincat (on 19/11/08)

What is this fuss all about? Were it not more beneficial to Malta had Cunard line kept sending their vessels to be repaired at Malta Drydocks?

Or is it more profitable for the powers that be to privatize the dockyards?

Another thing, no media in Malta mentioned that the Sirius Star that has been taken over by
pirates, bears the name Sirius that reminds me of that tanker which was repaired at the Drydocks and helped the Maltese economy immensely. That is what we need: work for the maltese highly skilled workmen.

John Alex Iles (on 19/11/08)

Surely not at the poop deck jack staff? Vessels entering harbour are to show the colours of host country at yard arm on main mast usually. It always baffled me how some vessels display maritime flag ie. white eight pointed cross on a red background.

Noel Cutajar (on 19/11/08)

@ Deb - It was bought for 100 million dollars.

G. Falzon (on 19/11/08)

Can somebody explain why the vessel this morning while entering harbour was flying the Maltese maritime flag if it is registered in Southampton?

John Atherton (on 18/11/08)

To Ded Bugeja

For informqation it cost Dubai 50 million pounds to acquire the QE2

Frank Aquilina (on 18/11/08)

It was said saying goodbye to the QE2. The welcome in our Grand Harbour was fit for a Queen. However, I noticed that the special hand postmark issued by Maltapost is not commemorating QE2 at all! The picture is that of Queen Mary 2!!

joseph cachia (on 18/11/08)

For the records and history will the MALTA harbourmaster or the port authoritity please give us the number of calls this great ship called at MALTA harbour

deb bugeja (on 18/11/08)

How much did it cost Dubai to buy it?

Bill Millam (on 18/11/08)

Ah, the beautiful QE2, how can I ever forget her? She was my first cruise and 26 cruises later, she still is my fondest memory. I met Meryl Streep on the QE2. I remember it was a great itinerary offered by Cunard which included a flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK on Concorde, 5 nights at the fabulous Waldorf Astoria in New York City and a 5-day transatlantic crossing on the majestic QE2 from New York to Southampton, England. I remember booking this trip through my dear late friend Godwin Mercieca. Ah, the good old days.........
Bill Millam
Los Angeles

J Farrugia (on 18/11/08)

Hurray for this Queen .. May it long live in its new place in Dubai.

Grand welcome for the QE 2

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