'Queen Mary 2's' gangway gives way, killing 13

ST. NAZAIRE, France - A gangway connecting the Queen Mary 2 to a dock collapsed Saturday as dozens of people crossed it to visit what will be the world's largest passenger ship. At least 13 people were killed and 32 injured, as victims fell nearly 50 feet, fire officials said.

The victims were family members of workers on the 21-story-tall ocean liner, which is dry-docked for finishing touches before its first voyage, planned for January.

The relatives had been given permission to tour the ship Saturday. As they crowded onto the gangway, the structure collapsed, said Herve Malherbe, chief aide at the Loire-Atlantic prefecture. Victims fell 30 to 50 feet to the ground.

Ten of the injured were in serious condition, according to the Operational Center Fire and Rescue Center.

There was no immediate explanation for the collapse, which came a day after the gangway was installed for the relatives' visit.

Philippe Bouquet-Nadeaud, the shipyard's head of human resources, said the work was carried out by a company specializing in scaffolding for boats.

The 150,000-ton trans-Atlantic liner has had its first two test runs, most recently in September. It is to make its inaugural voyage from Southampton, England, to Fort Lauderdale in January.

President Jacques Chirac, lamenting the deaths, was to visit the shipyard today.

Britain's Cunard Lines, which operates the vessel and is owned by Carnival Corp., sent sympathies to the victims' families.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with their friends and relatives at this time of sorrow," said president and chief operating officer Pamela Conover.

Julie Davis of Cunard said the company did not know whether the Queen Mary's schedule would be delayed.

"To the best of our knowledge, the ship will sail Jan. 12, as scheduled," she said.

The inaugural voyage is sold out, and the whole season of sailings was opened to booking in August 2002, so many reservations have been made, she said.

Once completed, the $800-million QM2 - the world's longest, tallest and most expensive passenger ship - will feature a planetarium, 22 elevators and the world's largest floating library.

The QM2 is being built by Alstom Marine's Chantiers de l'Atlantique and some 800 companies, mostly French, have been involved in the construction.

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