LONDON: Campaigners working to return the once-glorious QE2 ocean liner to the UK from its berth in Dubai are hopeful the vessel will be sold to them.
Current owner Dubai World is reportedly “considering their options” over the future of Queen Elizabeth 2, which has been moored at Port Rashid in Dubai since 2008.
John Chillingworth is heading up QE2 London, a consortium that wants to transform one of the world’s most famous ships from its current run-down state into a 530-room five-star hotel and conference centre in the heart of London’s Docklands.
Mr Chillingworth was a chief engineer with the ship’s former operator, Cunard, and oversaw its planned conversion to a 400-room floating hotel to be moored off The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai before the project was shelved during the financial crisis in 2009.
He said the current value had been estimated at £3 million (Dh16.8m) but the conversion was likely to cost about £100m, a price that would include towing the ship to Europe and mooring it for another two years while plans are approved.
An initial phase would lead to 330 hotel rooms being completed at a cost of £60m so the ship could start generating revenue to help to pay for the remaining rooms.
Mr Chillingworth said: “Over the past five years we have tried to keep our activities mostly confidential, mainly not to upset Dubai.”
QE2 was acquired by Istithmar, an investment arm of the Dubai World conglomerate, for a reported $100 million (Dh367m)in November 2008.
Until June 2012, talks between the owners and QE2 London were making good progress, as moving the vessel to London was the only deal the then Dubai World directors had considered. It is understood they visited London twice to hold talks with the Mayor of London’s office.
