Cunard to build new 'Queen Mary'

PLANS FOR a giant new transatlantic liner were announced yesterday by QE2 operators Cunard.

The scheme - entitled Project Queen Mary - could lead to a vessel in excess of 85,000 tonnes being in service within four years. The project is the first direct result of Cunard's pounds 300m takeover last month by US cruise company giant, Carnival. The original Queen Mary, built in 1936, was in service until 1967 before becoming a tourist attraction in California.