QM2 fails fire regulations
The biggest and most expensive cruise liner in the world, the Queen Mary 2, falls short of meeting fire regulations.
The Independent newspaper reports that the ship’s owners Cunard are carrying out work on bathrooms in all 1,300 of the ship’s cabins after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency found that panels in 900 of the rooms “do not fully meet fire regulations”. The investigation began after a tip-off by the BBC, the newspaper reports.
A spokesman for Cunard reportedly said that the issue had arisen despite the fact that the materials used had conformed to regulations before the ship entered service in January, adding: “During this time, there have been no problems with these materials.”
The newspaper also reports that Cunard has promised to build in extra smoke detectors and sprinkler systems into the ship’s bathrooms.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is reportedly satisfied that passenger safety “has not been compromised”.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
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