Fred Olsen’s Black Watch to undergo further repairs
The cruise line said the repairs should be completed in time for her next scheduled cruise on Sunday.
The ship is currently in El Ferrol in Spain collecting supplies and undergoing further assessment following a fire in her engine room in Madeira 10 days ago.
Fred Olsen said she will sail later this week to London Tilbury, where the additional repairs will be carried out.
The fire, which broke out during her 13-night cruise around Portugal, damaged three out of seven of the ship’s auxiliary engines. As a result, the cruise was abandoned and Black Watch was forced to skip her scheduled nine-night ‘Norwegian Fjords’ cruise, due to leave Tilbury on July 8.
Fred Olsen said an exact time frame for the repairs has yet to be confirmed but it said it fully expects Black Watch to set sail on her scheduled 26-night Arctic cruise as planned on Sunday.
"Fred Olsen is pleased that many Black Watch guests continue to make new bookings, which we hope is a testament to the captain, officers and crew on board Black Watch and the professional way in which the situation has been handled," said the company in a statement.
"Fred Olsen appreciates the kindness and co-operation of all its Black Watch guests and their families, and thanks them for their patience and understanding in these very challenging circumstances."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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