Celebratin an icon of FOR almost 40 years, she has been an ambassador, not only for the nation but the name of Southampton as well.

She has no equal as there really is only one, Queen Elizabeth 2.

There has never been a liner quite like her in history and it is highly probable that when she leaves Southampton for the final time next year the city will never see her again.

A cliche perhaps, but QE2 has become a legend in her own lifetime, she has broken so many records during the past four decades there really is nothing left for her to prove, she is quite simply unique.

The facts and figures that QE2 has left in her wake over the years make her the most remarkable liner ever to sail the seven seas.

But for all her fame the great Cunarder is probably the most misnamed ship in service as she is Queen Elizabeth 2 and not Queen Elizabeth II.

The liner is named after Cunard's previous liner, Queen Elizabeth and not the monarch.

When the Cunarder left Southampton on Saturday she was at the start of her 1,400th voyage and since she entered service in May, 1969 QE2 has sailed 5,665,688 million nautical miles, that is more than any other vessel in the history of shipping.

Up to now she has carried almost 2.

5m passengers, completed 801 Atlantic crossings, called at Southampton 700 times - just five fewer than the number of visits to New York - completed 25 full world cruises and during her prestigious career has been commanded by no fewer that 25 captains.

Deep beneath her decks there is most powerful propulsion plant on any nonmilitary vessel, she boasts of the largest marine motors ever built and has nine diesel electric engines, each the size of a double decker bus.

Although now considered elderly in shipping terms, QE2 can still out-run any other liner or cruise ship in service today.

She is capable of speeds up to 34 knots, cruising speed is 28.

5 knots and amazingly she can travel faster astern that most vessels move forward.

When she was launched in 1967, QE2 cost £29m to building but since then Cunard has spent more than 15 times that amount on refits and refurbishments.

QE2 is capable of producing enough electricity to light every street and home in Southampton.

The £100m cost of re-engining her in 1987 is the largest amount ever spent on such a project.

Her steam turbines had taken her a total of 2,622, 858m nautical miles, the equivalent of 115 times around the globe.

One gallon of fuel moves QE2 just 49 feet; with the previous steam turbine engines, one gallon was used every 36 feet.

The ship's fuel tank has a capacity of 4,381 tons, which is sufficient for ten days' sailing at 32.

5knots equalling 7,800 miles.

QE2 is the longest serving vessel in Cunard's 168-year history, a milestone she achieved on September 4, 2005, when she completed 36 years, four months and two days in the fleet and took the record from Scythia which began operating in 1921 until 1957.

For 35 years, QE2 held the status of Cunard's flagship, far out-stripping the 22 years that the former Queen Elizabeth held the title.

Cunard recently announced that QE2 will be taken out of service next year and on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 she leaves Southampton for the final time to become a floating hotel in Dubai.