RMS Queen Elizabeth | ‘Disaster is being done’ | (6/6)

The RMS Queen Elizabeth was sold to a group of businessmen who planned to relocate the Vessel to Everglades, Florida and transform the vessel into a Tourist Attraction but unlike the RMS Queen Mary which underwent renovated process to convert the vessel into a floating Hotel, Restaurant, and Museum. But the RMS Queen Elizabeth was simply open for paid tour. But failed almost immediately the humid climates in Florida ended up making the ship old and more rusted than anticipated and the public interest in touring the 30-year-old Ship was removed almost immediately. The Owners closed down the Vessel after the Vessel was declared a Fire Hazard. In 1970, the RMS Queen Elizabeth was sold to a Hong Kong Businessman who planned to turn the Vessel into a fully seaworthy University for the World Campus Afloat Program which would become Semester at Sea. The Plan wasn't terrible but it was worth a try. The RMS Queen Elizabeth would be renamed ‘Seawise University and sailed to Hong Kong but after years of neglect, the RMS Queen Elizabeth was in terrible shape. It was proposed that it would be Towed to Hong Kong but instead, it was decided to sail under the vessel's engines and well. The Voyage was a mess only 6 out of the vessels 12 Boilers were operable and one of the six failed before the vessel even set sail. The Vessel has enough power to keep up the momentum and is required a long stop in Aruba for repairs. Once arrived in Hong Kong the 5 Million Conversion of the Vessel would be begun. The RMS Queen Elizabeth was painted with White and Brilliant Orange Funnels and nearly all of the Vessels Conversions we're completed including updating the vessels Fire Control Systems and Refurbishing its Boilers and what was left required dry docking in Japan. But the Dreams of the Vessels into a Floating University would never happen.

On January 9, 1972

Three Fires started on board simultaneously and spread throughout the ship very quickly. An Hour after the fires started Tugs arrived on the scene desperately trying to defuse the fire but the flames burn out of control and at Midnight the Fire burned through 5 decks and tilted about a 17-degree list to starboard (right). The RMS Queen Elizabeth was a total loss and soon sunk at Victoria Harbor. A court of inquiry determined that the fires were set on purpose. The question is who is to blame? Many debated that the Ship was set on fire by its owners on purpose to collect the Vessel's insurance policy.

The Wreck of the RMS Queen Elizabeth remained in Victoria Harbor for years and was partially scrapped in 1974 and 1975 but the remains of the wreck were finally buried in the late 1990s.

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