Reports state that the QE2 has been registered by her owners in the South Pacific islands of Vanuatu. Internet forum The QE2 Story reports that the owners of the QE2, Nakheel, have temporatily registered the vessel in the island nation of Vanuatu, allowing the ship to fly the flag of Vanuatu, a member nation of both the United Nations and the British Commonwealth.
The flag of Vanuatu is a flag of convenience, which will allow her to sail to Cape Town whilst not complying with SOLAS 2010 regulations. The report states that in order to comply with international law her former Port of Registry, Southampton, has been painted out on her stern and replaced with the name Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu. Also reported on Maritime Matters sources state that the QE2 has had to drop her former call-sign of GBTT, and has been assigned the call-sign YJVW6.
A statement confirming the reports, issued by Nakheel, state that the QE2 will be classed as being "a passenger/cruise ship". The statement also confirms the removal of the Cunard name from the QE2's superstructure as a condition of the sales contract.
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