SHE may have ruled the waves for more than three decades and a new pretender to the ocean throne is on the horizon but Southampton's Queen Elizabeth 2 could sail on for another 20 years.
Cunard, owners of QE2, the most famous ship in the world, believe that, despite her present age the 70,327 ton passenger liner still has a long career stretching out in front of her.
Speaking after revealing details of Cunard's new megaliner, Queen Mary 2, which will enter service in Southampton at the end of 2003, the shipping line's president, Larry Pimentel stressed the arrival of the next generation of vessel would not mean the end of QE2.
At around 150,000 tons and costing £538 million, QM2 will be the biggest passenger ship ever built and the most expensive.
Mr Pimentel said QM2 was not being built to replace QE2 but to work alongside her on the traditional Atlantic route between Southampton and New York.
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