⚠️This fact has been debunked
This is a widely circulated myth that has been thoroughly debunked. The QE2 actually achieved 125 feet per gallon at economical speeds, and 49.5 feet per gallon at cruising speed (28.5 knots) - not 6 inches. The '6 inches per gallon' figure is approximately 250 times worse than reality. Additionally, the QE2 retired from service in 2008 and no longer 'moves' at all - it's been moored in Dubai as a floating hotel since then.
The cruise liner, 'Queen Elizabeth 2', moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
The QE2's Fuel Myth: Not 6 Inches, But 125 Feet Per Gallon
One of the internet's favorite "fun facts" claims that the legendary cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2 moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel it burns. It's dramatic, memorable, and completely wrong. The actual figure? 125 feet per gallon at economical speeds—about 250 times better than the myth suggests.
This fascinating piece of misinformation has circulated for decades, likely because it feels right. Massive ships burning fuel by the ton must be inefficient, right? But the math doesn't support the legend.
What the QE2 Actually Achieved
After the QE2 was retrofitted with nine MAN diesel engines in 1986-87 (replacing her aging steam turbines), her fuel economy improved dramatically. At her cruising speed of 28.5 knots, she managed 49.5 feet per gallon. When traveling at more economical speeds, efficiency jumped to 125 feet per gallon.
To put that in perspective, the ship consumed approximately 18.05 tons of fuel per hour when running all nine engines. The fuel itself—IF 380, also known as Bunker C—had to be heated to 140°C (284°F) for injection because at room temperature it resembles road tar.
Why the Myth Persists
The "6 inches per gallon" claim is so specific that it carries an air of authority. It's also counterintuitive enough to feel like insider knowledge—the kind of surprising detail that makes you sound smart at parties. But specificity doesn't equal accuracy.
Part of the confusion may stem from misunderstanding scale. When dealing with a ship that's 963 feet long and weighs 70,327 gross tons, our intuitions about fuel efficiency break down. We're used to cars that weigh a couple tons, not floating cities.
The QE2's Retirement Plot Twist
Here's another wrinkle: the fact uses present tense ("moves"), but the QE2 hasn't moved under her own power since 2008. She completed her final voyage from Southampton to Dubai on November 26, 2008, after nearly 40 years of service.
During her remarkable career, the QE2 sailed 5.8 million nautical miles, carried close to 3 million passengers, completed 806 transatlantic crossings, and circled the globe 26 times. But regulatory changes under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) would have required expensive structural modifications, hastening her retirement.
Today, she's permanently moored in Dubai, where she serves as a floating hotel. So technically, her current fuel efficiency is infinite—she doesn't burn any fuel at all.
The Real Numbers Are Still Impressive
Even 125 feet per gallon might not sound impressive compared to your Honda Civic. But consider what's being moved: a 963-foot vessel carrying thousands of people, along with restaurants, theaters, pools, and enough provisions for weeks at sea.
- Daily fuel savings after diesel conversion: ~250 tons compared to steam turbines
- Cruising speed: 28.5 knots (about 33 mph)
- Number of passengers carried during lifetime: Nearly 3 million
- Total distance traveled: 5.8 million nautical miles (equivalent to traveling to the moon and back over 12 times)
The lesson? When a "fun fact" sounds too perfectly terrible to be true, it's worth checking the numbers. The real story of the QE2's engineering—and her dignified retirement—is far more interesting than a catchy myth about fuel efficiency.