Queen Elizabeth at B+V for first overhaul

The overhaul of the 294m ship, in the yard’s giant 351.2m Elbe 17 dock, is the first since the 90,901gt QE went into service in 2010. Local reports said it was costing €30 million.

Cunard said it will last until 1 June and cover the inspection and modification of the ship’s two ABB Azipod propulsors and also scrubber installation. It also said a genset would be swapped “to improve the ship’s power supply” and that the ship’s tender and lifeboats,16 in all, would be checked. Finally the ship will get new hull coating and undergo “comprehensive” maintenance and classification inspection work, which was not detailed. Cunard added that several cabins would be refurbished, restaurant areas modified and new carpets laid.

The owners gave no details of the Azipod modifications –the ship also has ABB bow thrusters – and did not identify the scrubber plant being installed. The local reports however noted that Queen Elizabeth, which has six MaK M43C smoke-free engines of combined 64,000 kW, will be the first in the Cunard fleet to be fitted with scrubbers. The same reports said Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which was at B+V in 2008, and Queen Victoria, which was there in 2010/11, would also get scrubbers during their next yard visits.

Blohm + Voss faces what is beginning to look like a very busy year. It is currently discussing the details of the conversion and completion of Scandlines’ two 169.5m ferry newbuildings Berlin and Copenhagen for “well over €100 million”.

In addition, there are local reports that the 51,044gt cruise ship Crystal Symphony will call for refit in September but a yard spokesman told The Motorship Thursday he could not confirm that at this time.