QE2 'won't be permanent fixture'

Cape Town - The QE2 cannot be a permanent floating hotel at the V&A Waterfront, because the ship is altogether too large.

On Friday rumours were again circulating that this famous passenger liner - one of the world's biggest - could become a permanent floating hotel at the V&A. The QE2 is 293.5m long and 32.27m wide.

In 2007 Dubai World, co-owners of the V&A, bought the QE2 - which can accommodate some 1 900 passengers - for about R662.5m.

At the time Sake24.com reported on the possibility of the QE2 possibly being brought to Cape Town to provide additional accommodation during next year's World Cup soccer tournament.

Annemie Liebenberg, marketing manager for the V&A Waterfront, said because of its size the QE2 could only be berthed in Cape Town's commercial dock. There is currently no question of a permanent floating hotel at the V&A.

"A floating hotel such as this would be an incredible tourist attraction near the V&A Waterfront," she commented.

Albert Schuitmaker, executive director of the Cape Regional Chamber of Commerce and industry, is aware of plans to try to use the QE2 for additional accommodation for 2010. "The commercial dock is busy being expanded because there is already insufficient space. There have been proposals to build a special quay for passenger ships in the commercial harbour, but I'm not aware of immediate plans for such."

Angelo Manzoni, chief executive of the Western Cape trade promotion organisation Wesgro, said proposals have been made for the development of a marina for passenger ships in the commercial dock as part of a proposed extension of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

Discussions had, however, only begun when the international economic downturn put paid to them, said Manzoni.

- Sake24.com

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