We're all safe
================
A crowded gangway leading from the dock to the Queen Mary 2 \x{2014} the
world's largest passenger ship \x{2014} collapsed Saturday, killing 12
people and injuring 32 others, fire officials said.
Ten of the injured were in serious condition, according to the
Operational Center Fire and Rescue Center.
The victims were family members of workers given permission to visit the
vessel, local officials said. France-Info radio reported that children
were among the victims.
Dozens of people were on the gangway to access the Queen Mary 2 when the
passageway collapsed, according to the rescue workers.
It was not immediately known why the passage to the boat gave way.
The Queen Mary 2 is currently in dry dock at this Atlantic coastal
shipyard, where it remains under construction. Once completed, it will
feature a planetarium, 22 elevators and the world's largest floating
library.
The 150,000-ton trans-Atlantic liner recently finished its second test
run. The first was in September.
Families of workers were given permission to visit the vessel on
Saturday, and a crowd was on the gangway to access the QM2 when the
passageway collapsed, said Herve Malherbe, chief aid at the
Loire-Atlantic prefecture.
Up to 90 firefighters and rescue workers rushed to the scene of the
accident, setting up medical units to treat the injured.
Once completed, the $800 million QM2 \x{2014} the world's longest,
tallest and most expensive passenger ship \x{2014} will join an
illustrious list of massive passenger ships.
The Queen Elizabeth 2 \x{2014} whose trans-Atlantic route will be taken
over by the new ship in April \x{2014} was built in 1967; the original
Queen Mary was launched in 1934 and is now a hotel in Long Beach,
California.
In sheer size, the QM2 tops them all. It's 377 yards long and 79 yards
high \x{2014} or about the height of a 21-story building. It will weigh
more than twice the QE2's 70,000 tons.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s Voyager-class ships, about 138,000 tons,
are currently the largest cruise ships in service.
The ship is being built by Alstom Marine's Chantiers de l'Atlantique for
the British ship operator Cunard Line, which is owned by Carnival Corp.
Some 800 companies, mostly French, have been involved in the
construction.
The QM2 has generated a lot of interest, with Chantiers de l'Atlantique
saying it had received at least 150,000 letters from people asking to
come aboard for a look.
--
Jean-Marc
_______________________________________________
http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
