QE2

I am no stranger to travelling on the Tyne, having once been the very proud owner of a jet ski. 

Many a happy time was had on my journey from Derwenthaugh, near Blaydon, to Cullercoats for fish and chips - though less fun was had on the occasions (and there were lots of them) when I had to be towed back, the engine having decided it had pumped enough salt water for the day! 

Elegant shape

Thankfully I was in much safer hands when I met up with the crew of the Port of Tyne Authority on Monday evening for the rather special honour of being on board one of their pilot cutters to escort the QE2 safely back into the North Sea.

First I met the Assistant Harbour Master Alan McPherson, who introduced me to the rest of his crew, including another Alan, Brian, Jeff and Billy.

For some strange reason they quickly welcomed an annoying radio presenter who constantly bombarded them with simple questions like "What's the front end of a ship called again?" Maybe that explains why we were quickly underway!

A view from the pilot cutter

As we set out from the authority's base at Tyne Dock in South Shields we looked straight onto the side of the DFDS King of Scandinavia passenger ferry. What a size she was. 

Then, as we steered to the right and down the river, past a gas rig under construction, nothing could have prepared me for the sight of the lady that is the QE2 - the sheer size, the elegant shape and the pristine condition of this magnificent ship. 

So close

This was indeed a privilege; not just to see this graceful vessel, but to see her from vantage points not many people would ever get to see.  From the front, or bow as I now know it, (look at the size of the bridge) to being so close to the side of this beautifully designed floating palace. 

Paul was amazed by the size of the QE2

Then the operation began to get the QE2 under sail, or should I say under all nine of her engines?!

This started with the Foye Boatmen, a family run business, who were responsible for releasing the ropes that attached the QE2 to the dock.

However, this couldn’t be done until two tugs pushed the ship against her berth, because otherwise with winds equating to 70 tonnes of force on the hull the ship would simply blow onto the south shore of the river. 

Slowly, and with great precision, she moved west up the Tyne to the widest and deepest point of the river where she didn't, as I thought she would, do a U-turn, but instead approached the north bank and then unceremoniously had her stern pulled 180 degrees by four tugs until she pointed in the right direction. 

Then the journey and sail-by was underway...

Use the link below to see pictures from the trip or click on NEXT to read more.

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