Could the liner Queen Mary 2 survive sailing in to a tsunami?

Question

I read in a book about the QE2 that she survived a 90 foot wave unscathed, so one of these huge ships might survive a tidal wave.

Answer 1

A tsunami at sea yes....a rogue wave....maybe maybe not !

Answer 2

Tsunamis are interesting, in that they travel at a very high rate of speed in the open ocean (in the range of 500 miles per hour) and are quite low (about in the range of 12 to 18 inches), however, as they near shallow water, they slow down, and build.

Were the QE2 out in the middle of the ocean, they would not only survive, but quite likely not even know that the Tsunami had passed.  If they were in an exposed port, with about 40 to 50 foot of water, at anchor, first they would find themselves aground, then when the wave reached them, they would most likely suffer damage.  The damage would be dependent upon the size and force of the wave.

Answer 3

My understanding of a tsunami is that it is a condition not an actual wave in the storm sense. While at sea -even the largest tsunami is but a rise in altitude for a short while. It is when the energy reaches shallow water with nowhere to go but up that it becomes the tsunami wave we all read about in the papers.

Answer 4

It would survive, it may be carried off course, but it would survive.

Answer 5

As long as the QMII is perpendicular to the wave, it should survive. I am not so hopeful if it were struck side-on. The specification of the ship's design should cover dealing with a freak wave of a certain size, but many Cruise ships these days are built high in order to offer as many balconies as possible, which must raise the centre of gravity.

Answer 6

Absolutely yes,, A tsunami wave at sea is only a few inches high.but it very long like a mile or two. that is why they are hard to predict. The warning systems are based on gps systems and ocean buoys that can measure this small change on the ocean surface. The wave does not develop until it runs into the bottom in  shallow water near shore and it is so long it continues pile up into that  wave you see on tv.The long wave is also why it sucks the water  away from the shore as it approaches the shore. You could go over a tsunami at sea in a kayak an never even know it. So answer is yes!!