QE2's trip to Cape Town hits an iceberg

Hotelier Middle East Staff, January 26th, 2010

Plans to sail the Queen Elizabeth 2 to Cape Town in South Africa for the football World Cup finals in the summer have been scrapped, according to a report in The National.

Cape Town authorities said the port would not be able to keep the ship for the length of time required for the trip.

Last year the investment arm of Dubai World, Istithmar World, said it was planning to send the QE2 to be used as a temporary hotel to accommodate football fans attending the World Cup.

But Istithmar told The National yesterday that the trip to South Africa had been cancelled and no fresh plans had been drawn up.

“There are a number of options being considered for the QE2,” the company said in a statement.

“Istithmar World is considering which option will best maximise value of the vessel.”

Dubai World is in the process of renegotiating US $22 billion of debt, fuelling speculation that assets could be sold off, including the QE2.

Istithmar World declined to comment on whether this was one of the options being considered and would not offer further details on what the options were for the ship.