1.
AERIAL V Boat ferryign passengers from Q.E.2. to second liner
0.18

2.
SV PAN ALONG Q.E.2
0.29

3.
AERIAL VIEWS Both liners and lifeboats ferrying passengers
0.43

4.
AERIAL VIEW Lifeboat alongside liner
0.51

5.
AERIAL VIEW PAN Norwegian liner to Q.E.2.
1.09



Initials BB/0136 CG/TB/BB/0145


SATELLITE TELERECORDING original colour available on 3183/74 50ft

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A relaxing Caribbean cruise for passengers on the giant Queen Elizabeth Two liner ended on Wednesday (3 April) with their transfer to the Norwegian liner Sea Venture and for many, little prospect of a bunk.

The Q.E.2.'s power failed on Monday (1 April) and with only the emergency generators working, the passengers had to go without hot food from midnight on Tuesday until their rescue. There were free drinks to boost morale, but the ice did not last long.

The transfer of the 1,600 passengers -- mostly Americans -- took place southwest of Bermuda. There were bunks for only 600 passengers and those were allotted to the oldest -- the rest had to make do on deck chairs and lounge seats until they reached Bermuda. Two jumbo jets have been chartered by the Q.E.2.'s owners Cunard to fly the passengers to New York.

In London, the chairman of Cunard said the relief operation would cost almost GBP500,000 ($1,125,000). This included fare refunds, chartering the Sea Venture and flying the passengers to New York. The chairman said he hoped the ship's engineers could raise steam on Thursday (4 April) in at least one of the Q.E.21.'s three lifeless
A British government engineer and ship surveyor were flying to Bermuda on Wednesday to conduct an inquiry into the failure of the ship's machinery.