Personal Injury Law

Coast Guard Detains Cruise Ship

By Lipcon, Margulies & Alsina, P.A.

A 637-ft. cruise ship detained by the U.S. Coast Guard has moved to the Brooklyn Cruise Ship Terminal from Pier 92 in New York City and will continue repairs to fix hull damage and numerous discrepancies found during a recent routine inspection.

The Clipper Pacific, a cruise ship home ported in the Bahamas, will submit a complete repair proposal for the hull damage and 66 violations found during the inspection. The proposal includes sufficient temporary repairs that will allow the vessel to safely travel to their next port of call, where it will make permanent repairs.

The Coast Guard and the vessel's classification society have reviewed plans for repair from the ship's master and will conduct a final exam tomorrow morning to determine if the Captain of the Port Order to detain the Clipper Pacific will be lifted and the vessel deemed safe to sail.

A six-person examination team from Coast Guard Sector New York boarded the Clipper Pacific at 8 a.m. Sunday to conduct a routine safety inspection. Upon entering New York Harbor the ship's master reported a gash about one inch in length on the left side of the vessel sustained prior to coming to port.

Further investigation by the Coast Guard team identified the other 66 discrepancies such as fire safety, lifeboat damages and life jacket issues on the vessel. This inspection lasted from Sunday morning to Tuesday evening.

The Clipper Pacific is carrying approximately 1,200 passengers and crew members.

The cruise ship was inbound from Greenland when it was stopped by the Coast Guard.

Full post as published by Cruise Ship Law on July 17, 2008 (boomark / email).