The information below provides some guidance on how to understand and interpret the information and statistics from the abstract log.
A log entry exists for every day since the QE2 left Clydebank on 19-Nov-1968 until arrival in Dubai on 26-Nov-2008. Multiple entries can exist on the same day. Each log entry includes:
Dates are calendar dates and do not include times. Occasionally times of specific events are noted in the remarks (local time zone). The time of sailing is recorded when the last lines are let go or when the anchor is weighed. This can occasionally cause ambiguity in log entries when the ship sailed after midnight. e.g. if the vessel sailed at 00:15 then the previous date may be used.
On days where there is a change of command the incoming captain is recorded.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance | Passage distance at sea |
| In | Inbound port arrival distance |
| Out | Outbound port departure distance |
| Speed | Average speed (knots) from Distance and Time |
| Time | Time spent (decimal hours) at sea steaming Distance |
In some rare instances the passage data for Time, Distance and Speed is missing or incomplete. In such cases an appropriate comment appears in the log entry. e.g. "Estimated trials distance". Estimated values are determined in two ways:
The following log entries relate to sea-going activity.
| Entry | Details |
|---|---|
| At sea | A full 24 hour period at sea without calls to any ports. |
| At sea (drifting) | Drifting at sea without power or assistance |
| At sea (trials) | At sea undergoing testing. Typically before entering service or after a refit. Passage data not always recorded |
| At sea (under tow) | At sea being towed |
For periods when the QE2 was out of service additional information may be available in the comments and remarks.
| Activity | Details |
|---|---|
| Drydock | Ship drydocked. Not all drydocks are currently recorded. Refits may include days in drydock. |
| Refit | Vessel out of service for repairs or refit. Extended stays in port for unscheduled repairs typically use the current port. e.g. Cherbourg 27-Oct-1974 |
In the majority of cases ports are identified according to the entries in the international UN/LOCODE list. The port codes are given in the individual port pages e.g. GB SOU for Southampton. Ports do not differentiate between berths or anchorages. Details on unusual berths may be included in the remarks e.g. the 27-Apr-2007 call to New York when the QE2 docked at Brooklyn.
Every log entry has a value to indicate whether the call to the port should be counted. This is used for statistical purposes so that the total number of calls to each port can be calculated. Examples of calls that are not counted:
Every log entry has a value to indicate whether the call to the port should be recorded as the official maiden arrival. Apart from a few isolated exceptions listed below the maiden call will be the first counted call to the port.
| Port | Details |
|---|---|
| Clydebank | The first entry in the log on 19-Nov-1968 and the only entry for this port. It does not count as an arrival and therefore not a maiden call. |
| Cape Verde | The first entry on 3-Apr-1969 was not a counted call as the ship only sighted the Cape Verde islands during trials and did not stop. The official maiden call was 5‑Dec‑1988. |
| Dardanelles | A passage of water that the QE2 transited many times but not normally recorded in the log. Not a port of call. |
| Grand Cayman | The only entry for this port in the log on 12-Jan-2007 was an abandoned call and therefore not counted. |
| Panama Canal | The maiden call is the first full Panama Canal Transit on 25-Mar-1975. |
Occasionally scheduled ports of call have to be cancelled. This is typically due to unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions. Aborted calls are not always included in the log and typically only do so when the port is cancelled at very short notice. Where log entries are included they take two forms:
Voyage abstracts are restricted to one month. For best results select dates that start and end with a port of call.
Annual itineraries provide a quick and easy way to determine the location of the QE2 during any calendar year. For more detail and information on events refer to the abstracts and yearly reports.
A Transatlantic Crossing is defined as a traditional North Atlantic passage direct from a port on mainland Europe (including Ireland) to a port in the USA or Canada (including Newfoundland), or vice versa.
Occasionally the QE2 crossed via more southerly routes such as to the Caribbean or via islands like Tenerife. Such cruising voyages are not included in the totals.