Blohm & Voss shipyard has been awarded the contract to repair the damaged QE2. As of September 1, the ship is being repositioned from General Ship Corp. in Boston, where temporary steel repairs and tank cleaning has been underway since the August 7 accident, to Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, Germany.
According to Cunard Line, Blohm & Voss was among eight foreign and domestic shipyards competing for the job. Although Cunard would not name the other yards which were in the running, it has been reported that some of these included: Norfolk Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation; Newport News Shipbuilding; Betship Sparrows Point Yard; Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven; Wilton Fijenoord of Rotterdam; and Harland & Wolff, located in Belfast. Cunard is also not disclosing the cost of repairs.
The QE2 is scheduled to re-enter service on October 4; all voyages prior to that date have been cancelled.
The ship’s previously planned 1992 overhaul will begin November 20, also at Blohm & Voss. The overhaul period has been extended by eight days to allow for additional upgracling of facilities including: construction of a new spa; refurbishment of the 550- seat theatre; enhancement of a computer center; extensive stateroom refurbishment; and technical work.
Passengers affected by voyage cancellations have been given full refunds plus a choice of additional travel credits, discounts on selected 1992 Cunard voyages, and 1992 rates on 1993 QE2 voyages.
