Shipping line, Cunard, has celebrated the completion of the first construction phase of its new liner, Queen Mary 2.

At a dry dock party in the St Nazaire shipyard where the vessel is being built, Cunard president, Pamela Conover, conducted a traditional Mast Stepping ceremony, where coins specially produced by the Royal Mint were welded to the base of QM2s mast.

The whistle from the original Queen Mary has been installed aboard the new ship and was sounded for the first time. It was reported to have been heard by not only all those present but anyone within a 10mile radius.

In a speech, Conover paid tribute to the work already completed and said: The birth of this great ship marks a new beginning for Cunard.

At approximately 150,000 tonnes gross weight, the £583m ship will be the largest passenger vessel ever built. She is expected to be floated out shortly and it is anticipated that she will sail into Southampton on schedule in late December this year. Details: www.cunard.co.uk or type 'Queen Mary' into www.leisureopportunities.co.uk search engine