I JUST HEARED ABOUT IT ON THE RADIO BUT NO DETAILS - DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT HAPPEND?

[ 11-15-2003: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

PARIS, France (CNN) -- Eleven people have died and 20 were injured at a shipyard at Saint-Nazaire, France, when a gangway collapsed on the construction site of the giant ocean liner Queen Mary II, French media reports say.

France Info radio said a group of about 30 visitors was touring the construction site when they gangway they were standing on collapsed.

The luxury cruise liner is according to her owners, Cunard, the largest, longest, tallest, widest and grandest ocean liner ever built.

The ship, dubbed QM2, and thought to be not only the largest but the most expensive passenger ship ever built, was due to be handed over to Cunard shortly before Christmas.

Queen Elizabeth II -- after whom QM2's sister ship the QE2 is named -- is due to name Queen Mary II at a ceremony at Southampton, England on January 8, 2004.

Earlier this month the ship underwent two rounds of offshore trials ahead of its maiden transatlantic voyage in January.

The latest reports now say that 12 people were killed. The reports on MSNBC.com also says QM2 was in dry dock rather than in the water. Is this true?

What I can't understand is why so many people (30+) were allowed on the gangway at the same time. Apart from the weight, the crowding makes it unsafe. Security personnel should have prevented the overcrowding. This sounds like a case of negligence to me, a lack of concern for peoples' safety on the shipyard's part.

Brian

[ 11-15-2003: Message edited by: Keitaro ]

BBC News

CNN News

I recall similar accidents in the past, possibly a British ferry, if my memory serves me right?

[ 11-15-2003: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

A sad day for QM2.

All the best to the family of the people involved in the accident.

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Originally posted by Captain Rhone:
That's correct they were doing cleaning and painting plus checking the hull and she is in drydock for a while.

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The news sites now have photos taken after the accident. QM2 was in dry dock and the victims fell approximately 15 metres on to the concrete.

Apparently most of the victims were children. Why was the supervision so lax that so many were allowed on the gangway simutaneously? Children will act like children and the organizers should have realized this. After all, it is a CONTRUCTION site notwithstanding the fact that QM2 is almost completed. This accident was preventable.

Shame on Alstom's!

[ 11-15-2003: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
I recall similar accidents in the past, possibly a British ferry, if my memory serves me right?

[ 11-15-2003: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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First off al what a dissaster fore those people who where on the gangway. I'm shocked and give my respect to those whose's loved ones died in this freak accident.
And fore those hurt gett well soon.

Malcom indeed some years ago the Belgian carferry Prins Phillipe gangway collapsed well berthed in Dover.

[ 11-15-2003: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Regardless of who's fault it was, this event will always be associated with QM2 more so then the shipyard. People know QM2 and Cunard, not Alstom.

Certainly not a good omen for the beginning of the largest passenger ship ever built. No doubt Cunard's PR Dept. is working overtime.

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Originally posted by pungpui:
can we blame the construction company for this?

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QE2's problems when she started...maybe its traditional to have a host of problems.

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At any rate it is a tragic situation, and while I'm sure it will eventually be forgotten for the moment it takes precedence over all the festivity and fanfare associated with this ship.

[ 11-16-2003: Message edited by: cruiseny ]

No matter what effects this tragedy has on the ship, she will sail on...But how awful to have to live with the memory of having been involved or even having witnessed something like this.

Life just isn't fair.

PARIS (Nov. 15) - It's meant to be a ship of dreams, an $800 million luxury liner where elegant passengers glide across ballroom floors, sample caviar or soak up the sun on the high seas.

But the ship was the scene of a horrifying accident on Saturday, when a gangway full of shipworkers and their families collapsed, killing at least 13 of them and injuring dozens of others.

The project had suffered from periodic labor problems.

Some 300 Indian workers went on strike for 20 days in March to demand more money and better living conditions. Then 92 Romanian workers putting together the air conditioning went on strike in August, claiming they hadn't been paid for two months.

The strife subsided in September, when Alstom broke the contract with the company that hired the workers.

All those involved with the erection of the gangway, checking of, manufacture of etc will be all feeling just as bad about what happened as anyone else. Wondering if there was something that could have been spotted but missed, to prevent the accident. As Doug said, whatever the cause it was probably a combination of factors. A tragic accident.

There is no problem fore the ship herself there are no structural damege so she will sailing. I think the work on the ship will hold a few days for investigations and then it will restart and delivery off the ship will go one shedule.

The reports off dellaying the christinning ceremony i don't think it will delayd i think there will be a moment in the ceremony where will be a prayer ore a silent moment. Buth the festifity will be go ahead i think. Buth we all must wait what happend next.