RMS Queen Mary 2

(also referred to as the QM2) is a British transatlantic ocean liner. She has served as the flagship of Cunard Line since succeeding Queen Elizabeth 2 in 2004. The ship was officially named Queen Mary 2 by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 after the first RMS Queen Mary of 1936. Queen Mary had in turn been named after Mary of Teck, consort of King George V. With the retirement of Queen Elizabeth 2 in 2008, QM2 is the only transatlantic ocean liner in regular service between Southampton, England, and New York City, United States. The ship is also used for cruising, including an annual world cruise. She was designed by a team of British naval architects led by Stephen Payne and was constructed in France by Chantiers de l'Atlantique. In 2004, QM2 was the longest, at 1,131.99 ft (345.03 m), and largest, with a gross tonnage of 148,528 GT, passenger ship ever built. She remains the largest ocean liner ever built. QM2 was intended for regularly scheduled crossings of the Atlantic Ocean. The cost was increased by the high quality of materials; having been designed as an ocean liner, 40% more steel was used than for a cruise ship. She has a maximum speed of just over 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and a cruising speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph), which is faster than a cruise ship. QM2 uses integrated electric propulsion to achieve her top speed. Diesel engines, augmented by gas turbines, are used to generate electricity for motors for propulsion and for onboard use. (from Wikipedia)