12 killed in accident on world's largest passenger ship

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 16, 2003

12 killed in accident on world's largest passenger ship

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12 die as gangway collapses on world's largest passenger ship

Twelve people died and 22 were injured, 10 seriously, on Saturday when a gangway on the ocean liner Queen Mary 2 collapsed in the shipyard of the port city of Saint-Nazaire in Loire-Atlantique, eastern France.

The accident took place during an organized visit onto Queen Mary II when the finishing touches are being made to the largest passenger ship ever built, said the prefecture of Saint-Nazaire ata press conference.

More than 30 people were on the gangway when it suddenly collapsed, according to the fire services.

The accident occurred weeks before the scheduled delivery of the ship to Cunard Line company, a famous operator of ocean liners of luxury trips. Four days ago, the deluxe ship accomplished her second test trip.

The ship, built at an estimated cost of some 800 US million dollars, is 345 meters long and has a beam of 45 meters at the bridge wings. A majority of the ship's 1,310 staterooms have private balconies. It also has a theater of 1,000 places.

Cunard Line started its tradition of luxury cruising in 1840. Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to join Cunard's two other ocean liners -- Queen Elizabeth 2 and Caronia -- in January 2004.

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