Engines:
Nine 9-cylinder 58/64 (580mm bore / 640mm stroke) medium speed turbo-charged diesels, running at 400 rpm and connected to individual alternators generating 10.5 megawatts each at 10,000 volts. Built by MAN B & W Diesel GmbH, Augsburg, Germany, each engine weighs 120 tons.
Motors:
Two 400-ton electric motors, one on each propeller shaft, rated at a maximum of 44 megawatts each at 144 rpm. Built by GEC, Rugby, England, the motors each weigh over 400 tons and are over 9 metres in diameter.
- They are the largest marine motors ever built.
- The diesel electric system produces 130,000 hp, which is the most powerful propulsion plant of any merchant ship in the world.
- The 95 MV total power output is enough to light a city the size of Southampton.
- QE2 is the fastest merchant ship in operation.
Boilers:
Nine waste heat recovery gas boilers mounted on the engine exhaust uptakes, and two oil-fired boilers.
These produce steam for fuel heating, domestic fresh water heating, heating of swimming pools and steam for the laundry equipment and kitchens. Built by Sunrod, Sweden.
Propellers:
Two outward-turning, controllable-pitch. Diameter 19 feet 8 inches (6.1 metres).
The propeller shafts are both 262 feet 6 inches (80 m) long and 23 feet 2 inches (5.9 metres) in diameter. Built by Lips, Drunen, Netherlands.
Bow Thrusters:
Two Stone KaMeWa of 1,000 hp per unit.
Steering Gear:
Brown Bros. 4 Rom Electro-hydraulic.
Stabilizers:
Four Denny Brown; each fin projects from the ship's side by 12 ft (3.65 m) and is 6 ft (1.85m) wide. They reduce rolling by 60%.
Speed:
Maximum - 32.5 knots
Service - 25 - 28.5 knots.
Service speed is achievable using only 7 of the 9 engines.
Fuel Consumption: 18.05 tons per hour, or 433 tons per day
- This is equal to six of the ship's swimming pools.
- The ship's fuel oil tank capacity of 4,381.4 tonnes is sufficient for 10 days' sailing at 32.5 knots, equalling 7,800 miles.
- One gallon of fuel will move the ship 49.5 feet; with the previous steam turbine engines, one gallon of fuel moved the ship 36 feet.
Water Production / Consumption
- Four Serck vacuum flash evaporators, producing 250 tons each per day.
- One reverse osmosis plant producing 450 tons.
- Total production - 1,450 tons per day.
- Consumption - about 1,000 tons per day; equivalent to 14 of the ship's swimming pools.
Anchors
- Forward - two of 12.5 tons each, on 3 15/16" diameter cable 1,080 feet long.
- Aft - one of 7.5 tons, on 3" diameter cable 720 feet long.
- Spare - one of 12.5 tons.
Rudder Weight: 80 tons
Stopping Capability
- The ship can reduce speed from 32.5 knots full ahead to standstill in 3 minutes 39 seconds, in a distance of 0.75 nautical miles (1.39 km).
- The ship can go from standstill to full speed astern (19 knots) in 12 minutes.
NAVIGATION INFORMATION
Navigation Equipment
- 3 Kelvin Hughes Nucleus ARPA radars, 3cm and 10 cm, fully inter switched.
- 2 NINAS navigation works stations complete with an electronic chart display utilising ARCS disks.
- 2 Kelvin Hughes Qubit Master Yeoman plotting tables.
Compasses:
- 2 Sperry MK.37 Gyro Compasses; Compass. Lilley and Gillie Magnetic
Whistles:
- 3 Tyfon Whistles, audible for up to 2 miles.
Navigational charts:
The Chartroom has approximately 1,500 charts, covering most of the world; they are updated weekly.
SAFETY INFORMATION
Lifeboats: 20; total capacity 2,244 persons Liferafts: 56; total capacity 1,400 persons Buoyant Apparatus: 5; total capacity 100 persons Lifejackets: 3,474 Lifebuoys: 30
Safety Control Room
At the heart of the ship is the Safety Control Room which is manned 24 hours a day. From this room, there is a continuous watch on every part of the ship. In the centre of the room is a desk, carrying an illuminated master plan of QE2. Any particular area of the vessel can be presented, displaying all safety precautions available. The desk also carries direct communication links with the bridge and Engine Control Room.
EXTERIOR
The Funnel: This is the most recognizable feature of QE2, the funnel is 69 feet high and is one of the most efficient and practical designs in any passenger liner.
The Mast: The mast structure performs the useful functions of clearing waste gases from the main kitchen, and carries the radar scanners, aerials and navigation lights.
