Queen Mary In Final Repair Stages; To Open By End Of Year

LONG BEACH, CA — City officials announced Monday that repairs for the Historic Queen Mary are in the final stages, and visitors can expect to come back on board to enjoy sections of the ship by the end of the year.

Over the summer the City of Long Beach completed rounds of critical repairs to ensure the ship is safe to have people aboard.

“In just ten months since the city’s acquisition of the lease, the Queen Mary has begun to receive the necessary care and commitment it deserves,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “I look forward to getting people back on board to enjoy this historical treasure once again.”

Repairs made over the summer include extending bulkheads — inner walls that prevent water intake — to improve structural stability. Those repairs, along with the removal of 20 old and deteriorated lifeboats, helped to reinforce the structural integrity of the Queen Mary.

The city also began installing an automated bilge pump system to discharge any excess water that may intrude onto the ship. The 11 bilge pump platforms have already been built and the pumps are expected to be installed in early 2023, according to the city.

Final critical repairs are underway and additional planned repairs include installing an emergency generator, two boilers and heat exchangers.

According to the city, approximately 75 percent of critical repairs inside the ship are expected to be completed by the end of the year. The remaining critical repairs are projected to be completed in early 2023.

“Over the course of this year, the Queen Mary has received the attention and preservation it deserves,” said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. “I look forward to soon welcoming visitors back onboard to enjoy this historic, beautiful landmark of our great city and that it remains a family friendly attraction for many years to come.”

On Nov. 1, Long Beach city councilmembers unanimously approved $1 million for additional repair work for the Queen Mary, in hopes of partially opening by the end of the year. The total projected cost for all of the repairs and improvements was $23 million according to an inspection report released in April of 2021.

At that meeting, the council said to move forward with the planned reopening necessary repairs needed to be made, including:

• Replacing linoleum flooring and carpet to reduce trip hazards and improve the aesthetics with historically accurate materials.
• Repairing HVAC and refrigeration to ensure the ship is properly heated and cooled.
• Modernizing elevators to ensure safety.
• Installing kitchen hoods that meet fire codes and will help resume food service on the ship.
• Adding new locks for guest rooms due to malfunctions in older locks.

The City Manager was authorized by the city council in June to enter into a Hospitality Management Agreement to reopen and operate the Queen Mary's hotel, food and beverage facilities, entertainment attractions and ship-related events for a period of five years.

A total of $3.6 million was allocated to support preopening improvements and staffing costs.