LONG BEACH, Calif. (KNX) — Fencing is going up in Long Beach, as the city prepares to begin the first phase of its $5 million repair project on The Queen Mary. City officials announced the beginning of the project Thursday, promising that the ship will reopen to the public later this year.
“It is our responsibility to preserve the Queen Mary and ensure this historic landmark is properly cared for,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement. “Now that [Long Beach] has full oversight and control of the Queen, it’s important we make the critical repairs needed.”
The city gained control of the former ocean liner last June, for the first time in more than 40 years, the city said. In the seven months since it has been in control, officials have worked with marine engineering experts and looked over previous studies to design a plan to restore The Queen Mary to its former glory.
“Addressing these critical repairs has been a long time coming and an effort that will greatly benefit the structural safety and historical preservation of the Queen Mary,” First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas said in the city statement.
“With the City now overseeing control of the ship, I am confident this year will bring tremendous progress towards protecting this historic feature of our community.”
The 86-year-old ship began its life in England and embarked on its maiden voyage on May 27, 1936, according to its history page. Since retirement in 1967, the ship has been a beloved tourist attraction, event venue and floating hotel in the port city.
The city acquired control of the ship last June after former lessee Urban Commons Queensway, LLC surrendered its leases and filed a motion to reject them as a result of its bankruptcy.
Upcoming work
As the critical repairs begin, the ship will temporarily close to the public. First, crews will remove the ship’s “deteriorated lifeboats,” which have stressed the side shell of the ship and created “severe cracks in the support system,” the city said.
Thirteen of the original lifeboats will be stored as the city reaches out to museums and other non-profits to determine if anyone wishes to preserve them as a piece of history. Interested parties can contact Johnny Vallejo at Johnny.Vallejo@longbeach.gov.
The ship will also have new, permanent “bilge pumps” installed, which will remove water that collects in the bilge, or bottom of the inner hull, in an emergency.
“Additional improvements to the bulkhead, emergency generator and to the water intrusion warning system are forthcoming.” the city said.
“These repairs are needed as a result of decades of deferred maintenance by former operators of the ship and are critical for its preservation.”
To keep the public informed on The Queen Mary’s updates, Long Beach city officials created a page to learn more about the renovations. To visit, click here.
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