As well as all the associated pipe and ducting work, the works required the removal of two cabins to accommodate additional equipment. At the same time maintenance to the stabilisers, ABB Azipods, bow thrusters and water intakes was taking place.

Refurbishment works by specialist contractors inside the vessel took place on a series of cabins and corridors, along with the ship’s spa and part of the retail provision. Ashore, DSBr performed routine maintenance to Queen Elizabeth’s 18 lifeboats, 47 liferafts and her various tenders. The yard also cleaned and repainted the hull and topsides of the ship.

Room to spare

On arrival the 294-metre long, 32-metre beam ship was placed in Damen Shiprepair Brest’s drydock number 3, one of the largest in Europe at 420 metres by 80-metres. This allowed ample space for the below the waterline works and the deployment of the equipment employed by the various DSBr and third-party teams. In total, around 250 people were at work on the project. Large quantities of materials flowed on board the vessel while substantial amounts of waste came ashore for disposal as the cabins were refurbished. DSBr’s experienced project management team ensured that everything went smoothly and that a series of large temporary shelters were available for the contractors’ use.

Finished ahead of time

Cunard’s confidence in DSBr’s project management skills were fully justified when the programme was completed a day early. With the UK’s leading cruise terminal of Southampton just 12 hours away, the Queen Elizabeth was back at her home port on the morning of 27th November.

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