By
Rebecca Gibson |
Cunard Line has released more details about Queen Mary 2’s commemorative visit to the port of Halifax in Nova Scotia, on 10 July, which is part of the line’s 175th anniversary celebrations.
Arrivinng in the ancestral home of Cunard founder Samuel Cunard at 6am, Queen Mary 2 will call as part of a Transatlantic Crossing, which will recreate the original voyage made by the line’s first flagship Britannia in 1840.
The visit will be marked by an outdoor ceremony for local dignitaries, Halifax port officials and community members, which will include the dedication of a future public waterfront development to Cunard. Nova Scotia’s popular Rhapsody Quintet will perform during the event.
Meanwhile, Cunard, the Canadian Maritime Heritage Foundation and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will award the first Samuel Cunard Prize for Vision, Courage and Creativity to James Irving, a Canadian industrialist whose family has owned a business in Canada and the US for more than 130 years. This prize will be awarded every year onboard Queen Mary 2 and recognise a recipient who exemplifies the world-changing vision, courage and creativity shown by Samuel Cunard throughout his life.
“We look forward to honouring Sir Samuel Cunard in his birthplace of Halifax, and to celebrating the company’s first North American port of call,” said Richard Meadows, president of Cunard North America. “Cunard is honoured to be one of the few companies who can claim a 175-year history and Halifax plays an instrumental role in that story.”
As part of the celebration, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will also reopen the Cunard portion of its Age of Steam exhibition and launch a new exhibit that will showcase Samuel Cunard’s impact on global business, transportation and world events.
Queen Mary 2 will depart Halifax at 8pm to a salute from the Royal Canadian Navy onboard the frigate HMCS Montreal as the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets fire a salute from the shore.
The ship will then sail a counter-clockwise tour of the harbour, proceeding to the middle of the harbour where she will pause opposite HMC Dockyard, which was the site of the original Cunard Wharves.
From there, Queen Mary 2 will turn to port and fall into line with the escort vessels, led by Theodore Tugboat, the Atlantic Oak tugboat and HMCS Montreal, sailing in a southerly direction close to the Halifax Boardwalk and along the sea wall from Georges Island to port. The flotilla will be greeted by a naval artillery salute from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic wharf and music from the Stadacona Band.
Upon passing Pier 21 the flotilla will be joined by yachts and leisure craft from the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and other yacht clubs.
Queen Mary 2 will then continue on her commemorative Transatlantic Crossing down to Boston and New York. Anniversary events are scheduled in both ports.