Passengers were evacuated from Havila Voyages coastal cruise ship Polaris yesterday after the propulsion system overheated, causing the automatic sprinkler system to spray areas with foam.
The ship, which sails between Bergen and Kirkenes in Norway was on its way to Geirangerfjord on a northbound route when the incident occurred.
The ship was forced to dock at Stranda, where the 397 passengers and some 30 crew disembarked via the gangway.
Polaris later received temporary sailing permission from maritime officials to return to Ålesund, where it docked last night.
In an update this morning, Havila said it had been forced to cancel the remaining round trip from Ålesund.
“It is, of course, very unfortunate for all our passengers who were looking forward to a unique experience along the Norwegian coast, and this is a situation we wish we could have avoided, but it has been beyond our control,” said CEO Bent Martini.
“Safety is our highest priority, and we will never compromise on that. Therefore, Havila Polaris will not be able to sail until repairs are completed and the systems thoroughly tested. We plan for Havila Polaris to be back in service from Bergen on August 3rd.”
Bent also thanked the crew on board, saying they ‘handled the situation ‘excellently, preventing more significant damage to the ship while also taking good care of the guests on board’.
“From what we in the shore organization experienced and based on feedback from passengers who were on board on Wednesday, our crew on Havila Polaris handled this incident very well,” he added.
“They prevented more significant damage and made the right choices to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the ship. Additionally, the incident occurred without too much drama and in an orderly manner. Their efforts in a critical situation have been outstanding.”
After repairs, Havila Polaris will return to service from Bergen on 3 August.
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The ship, which sails between Bergen and Kirkenes in Norway was on its way to Geirangerfjord on a northbound route when the incident occurred.
The ship was forced to dock at Stranda, where the 397 passengers and some 30 crew disembarked via the gangway.
Polaris later received temporary sailing permission from maritime officials to return to Ålesund, where it docked last night.
In an update this morning, Havila said it had been forced to cancel the remaining round trip from Ålesund.
“It is, of course, very unfortunate for all our passengers who were looking forward to a unique experience along the Norwegian coast, and this is a situation we wish we could have avoided, but it has been beyond our control,” said CEO Bent Martini.
“Safety is our highest priority, and we will never compromise on that. Therefore, Havila Polaris will not be able to sail until repairs are completed and the systems thoroughly tested. We plan for Havila Polaris to be back in service from Bergen on August 3rd.”
Bent also thanked the crew on board, saying they ‘handled the situation ‘excellently, preventing more significant damage to the ship while also taking good care of the guests on board’.
“From what we in the shore organization experienced and based on feedback from passengers who were on board on Wednesday, our crew on Havila Polaris handled this incident very well,” he added.
“They prevented more significant damage and made the right choices to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the ship. Additionally, the incident occurred without too much drama and in an orderly manner. Their efforts in a critical situation have been outstanding.”
After repairs, Havila Polaris will return to service from Bergen on 3 August.
The post Havila Polaris passengers evacuated, cruise cancelled appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
