Cruise ship gashed as it hits pier
Royal Caribbean International ship Grandeur of the Seas with at least 20 British passengers on board hit a pier while docking in a Mexican port.
The 2,000-passenger ship suffered a gash in its bow in the incident which occured on Wednesday while docking in Costa Maya as part of a seven-night cruise from New Orleans.
No passengers or 740 crew were injured as a result of the collision which occured during 15-knot winds and a three-knot swell.
Passengers are being given the option to fly back to New Orleans on Saturday or Sunday if the 74,000-ton ship is unable to return this weekend. Its following cruise due to depart from New Orleans tomorrow has been delayed.
The company is assessing the damage caused – a 42-foot gash to the starboard bow, about 5-foot high at its widest point – and evaluating repair work.
Photographs of the damaged ship showing the hole above the water line appear on the www.cruise-addicts.com website.
New Orleans newspaper The Times-Picayune reports that the US Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
A statement from the cruise line said: “Based on all the information now
available, Royal Caribbean is currently making contingency plans to assist
guests in returning to New Orleans by either Saturday or Sunday with
complimentary flight arrangements should the ship be unable to return to
New Orleans this weekend.
“If that were the case, guests who have additional vacation time are welcome stay onboard and return with the ship.
“The Grandeur of the Seas’ seven-night sailing scheduled to depart on
Saturday, April 23, will be delayed in its departure. Guests booked on
that sailing are being contacted now. Details regarding its departure
date and time will be available later this evening on Royal Caribbean’s
website www.royalcaribbean.com.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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