We mostly think of Vanuatu as a flag of convenience state, not a port of refuge but that is what it has become for the P&O cruise ship Pacific Star. The decision was made to pull into port and fly the passengers home after sustaining damage during a pacific storm with winds of over 50knots and seas over 30ft. The fact that the damage was sustained only hours after departing Auckland has many questioning the Captain’s decision to sail.
ABC News of Australia tells us:
The Pacific Star ran into a wild storm that damaged the ship’s bow, as well as some windows, doors and satellite equipment. Many of the 1,200 passengers on board were sea sick, some questioning why the cruise was not postponed.
The ship canceled a scheduled visit to New Caledonia and made instead for Port Vila from where P and O Cruises is now trying to arrange return flights for its shaken holiday makers who will all receive refunds.
A company spokeswoman says its the first time in 10 years a cruise has been abandoned because of bad weather.
This comes after a long line of maritime incidents this week:
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North Korea said it successfully refloated a 5,000-ton destroyer that suffered damage in a botched launch attempt last month that left it foundering in shallow water, with leader Kim Jong Un vowing to build two more vessels of the same class next year as part of his efforts to boost the country’s naval capabilities.
Multiple explosions and fires erupted on a cargo ship bound for India's financial capital Mumbai on Monday, causing 40 containers to fall into the Arabian Sea and forcing several crew members to jump overboard to escape the flames, officials said.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) of New Zealand has called for legislative changes to ban substandard ships from the country’s waters following a series of incidents involving the containership...
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