CUNARD Line has placed the order for its giant new ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, with French shipyard Alstrom Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
At 150,000 tons, the ship will overtake the 142,000-ton Voyager of the Seas to become the largest passenger vessel in the world. However, it will only carry a maximum of 2,800 passengers.
QM2 is planned to be 21 storeys high and will be able to sail at nearly 30 knots.
The ship will fly the British flag and Cunard will base it in Southampton after it is launched in the final quarter of 2003.