New Cunarder passes sea trials in style

Cunard Line?s flagship Queen Mary 2 recently completed her first builder?s sea trials with flying colours. The largest, longest, tallest, widest and, at $780m, the most expensive passenger liner ever built underwent four days of rigorous testing of her power, manoeuvrability and vibration levels off the Brittany coast. The successful trials put QM2 right on schedule for her January 12 maiden voyage from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

According to Captain Ronald Warwick, master-designate of the new queen, “The sea trials for Queen Mary 2 have been a tremendous success. It was great to finally take her out to the open ocean, where she belongs.” Another observer on board during sea trials, the ship?s naval architect Stephen Payne, was also jubilant. “For a first builder?s sea trial, the performance of Queen Mary 2, being a prototype ship, exceeded expectations in all respects.”

Further sea-trials are scheduled for early November and Cunard hope that these will take place on the west coast of Scotland. This is of considerable historical interest since QM2?s predecessors were built on the Clyde and ran their sea trials off Arran where the original Queen Mary was tested.

Destined to become the defining luxury ocean liner for the 21st century, QM2 will offer 15 transatlantic crossings in her inaugural year as she takes over the role currently operated by her sister ship, Queen Elizabeth 2, as Cunard?s transatlantic liner. A special highlight of the QM2?s inaugural schedule will be its maiden eastbound crossing from New York on April 25 as both Queen Mary 2 and QE2 will sail in tandem. It will also be the first time two Cunard Queens have been berthed in the port together since March 1940.