Cunard Installs Four Rolls Royce Pods On QM2

All four pods have now been fitted to Cunard Line's $780-million Queen Mary 2, currently in the final stages of construction at the Chantiers shipyard here. The milestone marks the first four-pod installation ever. The powerful Rolls Royce Mermaid propulsion system, which was designed for QM2, is rated at more than 85 MW. The four pods will provide a speed of nearly 30 knots, making her the fastest ocean liner in the world after its sister QE2.

The new Cunard flagship is on schedule to sail its maiden voyage from Southampton, U.K., to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on January 12, 2004.