THE Dubai developer who bought the world-famous Southampton liner Queen Elizabeth 2 said today it was still committed to renovating the ship.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, concerns about the future of the historic liner were raised amid fears new owners Nakheel had been hit badly by the global economic downturn.

The state-owned company has been surrounded by speculation that it may shelve plans to turn the ocean liner into a luxury hotel after it axed staff and postponed several projects, including a tower planned to be the world's tallest and a high-end hotel being built with Donald Trump.

However Nakheel said in a statement it is examining the ship ahead of restoration but has no plans to sell it or operate it again as a cruise liner.

The ship was sold to the company by former owners Cunard for £50m and sailed out of its home port for the last time amid emotional scenes in November.