Chris Frame the Maritime Historian
#2 AU/NZ
The Design PROBLEM That Almost Ruined Queen Mary 2
Queen Mary 2 was designed to be the ultimate ocean liner, but a major design problem almost made her primary mission impossible. When she was first announced, her iconic Cunard funnel looked very different. Why was it changed? In this video, we investigate the bridge that forced designers to shrink QM2’s most recognizable feature. We’ll look at the original 1998 renderings, the legacy of the QE2 funnel, and the incredible engineering required to squeeze the world’s largest liner under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge with only 3 metres to spare. 🛳️ Join to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgk7SzYDkiXWWBfMqXYH0cA/join 🚢 My Cunard History Website: https://www.chriscunard.com/ 📚 Buy my books: https://www.chrisframe.com.au/books 👕 Buy cruise merch: https://themaritimehistorian.Teemill.com/ 📚 SubStack: https://themaritimehistorian.substack.com/ 🛳️ Learn more about cruising at my Blog: https://www.chrisframe.com.au/ About the QM2 Funnel Design: The QM2’s predecessor, QE2, introduced a funnel that was the first among the Cunard fleet to incorporate the distinctive design we know today; with the black smoke stack, the red cowling and the white scoop. In 1987, the design was supersized on QE2 to accommodate an array of exhaust and heat exchangers for nine brand-new diesel engines. When Carnival announced plans to build the first true ocean liner in a generation, a tall, thick QE2-style funnel was the original plan. However, as QM2’s designer Stephen Payne noted in our 2020 interview (watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2uinSNslXo), passenger expectations and engineering requirements—specifically the addition of gas turbines atop the vessel—changed everything. To reach her primary port of New York, QM2 has to pass under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. With an air draft limit of 62m (203ft), the original design simply wouldn't fit. This video explores how the funnel was shortened and the wind scoop enlarged to ensure the ship remained both functional and beautiful. Image thanks: Peter Knego: @midshipcinema Gavin Harper Epic Aug 2023 Luke Morrison: @Boeing_Luke Henry Farnam and Perry Poussard @luxevagabonds Image References: QE2 Funnel in Bremerhaven: Dashers, CC BY SA 3.0 - https://tinyurl.com/qm2-01 Verrezzano Bridge: Gian Castillo, CC BY SA 2.0 - https://tinyurl.com/qm2-0023 QM2 Renderings: Cunard Line (2003) - https://www.cunardline.com/ QM2 and QE2 in Southampton (Cunard). Tags: #QM2 #queenmary2 #cunard #cruisenews #oceanliner #maritimehistory #shipdesign Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgk7SzYDkiXWWBfMqXYH0cA/join