Underwater Camera Test: RMS Queen Mary Propeller

April 3rd, 2011 - We assembled a 24 foot long extension in the RMS Queen Mary propeller viewing tank, and mounted an Olympus 550WP camera to it. The idea was to get a more close-up view of the propeller under water. It actually worked quite well considering the lighting was only ambient, and there was no live feed to see what the camera was actually recording until it was played back after being lifted out of the water.

[The RMS Queen Mary ocean liner entered service in 1936, and since 1967 has been located in Long Beach, California. The ship has served as a hotel and museum since 1972, and also features restaurants and shops.)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• rms
• queen
• mary
• long
• beach
• california
• propeller
• prop
• screw
• ship
• hull
• 534
• underwater
• camera

[ssliberte]

You should do this under the rest of the ship

[LakeNipissing]

@ssliberte The water under the ship is way too murky to see anything. Divers who have performed hull inspections under the Queen Mary have reported visibility is less than one foot. The ship's keel only clears the silt build-up from the river by five to ten feet.

[990mustang]

that would be freakin scary if i had to dive in that tank.

[2ndOfficerCHL]

Very cool shots. Although I must say, they could have some better lighting in that room.

[LakeNipissing]

@jurassicparkboy For some (short) period of time (that I was told, but I can't remember right now), when the ship first opened to the public in Long Beach in 1972. Maybe it was only for a day. Apparently it just didn't work because of the turbulence and churning of the water in the tank, making the propeller impossible to see anyway. Kind of defeated the purpose of the viewing tank / room. Maybe someone who knows exact details can post. But not a joke, the motor is still there.

[jurassicparkboy]

@LakeNipissing so you're saying the thing was operational? sorta??? thats fucking scary, the propeller scared me as well

[LakeNipissing]

@00ShuYin00 When the propeller tank exhibit was first opened in 1972 there was an electric motor with reduction gear drive connected to the propeller shaft to rotate the propeller very slowly (0.5 RPM). Although the idea was interesting, in practise it did not work out because the water was churned so much the propeller was no longer visible, there may have also been concerns about stressing the tank. The motor, reduction unit and chain drive are still present in the portside shaft alley today.

[LakeNipissing]

@Beast384 I remember the diver mannequin being there too, until a few years ago. It didn't really bother me at all, but I have always wanted to dive off the railing into the tank and try to touch the tip of the propeller. It is eleven feet below the water surface, so it shouldn't really be that difficult, but I have been informed the water is very cold!! The camera on the extension pole was a good compromise.

[00ShuYin00]

@LakeNipissing i think he means, being stuck underwater in close proximity to a ship's propeller...

would scare the crap out of me if those things would start rotating x_x

[Beast384]

@LakeNipissing When I visited the Queen Mary as a child, I was terrified of the Propellor Room. Something about the way it is lit was super eerie, and I believe they used to have a mannequin of a diver down there to give it scale, which made it all the worse.