While the M/V Plancius remains
stranded in the South Atlantic,
the Saga Sapphire has suspended
its inaugural cruise in Spain.
CRUISING’S annus horribilis is continuing, with
another two vessels in hot (or very cold) water.
Last week Oceanwide Expeditions’ Plancius
experienced a partial engine failure, leaving 73
passengers and 42 crew still waiting to be
rescued in South Georgia, and on the weekend
Saga Sapphire cut short its first voyage for
Saga Cruises, also due to engine trouble.
These incidents follow two engine fires in the
past two months, on Azamara Quest and Costa
Allegra, which left the ships adrift, as well as
recurring engine problems on Cunard’s QM2.
In the latest crisis, the recently refurbished
Saga Sapphire had problems in one engine,
but the cause is unknown.
The captain’s blog on the company’s website
on 13 April makes no mention of the malfunction.
Passengers were flown home from Valenica
yesterday and will receive a full refund, while
people booked on the next cruise are expected
to embark in France for a shortened itinerary.
Built in 1981 for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as the
original MS Europa, Sapphire was most
recently operated by Croisieres de France
under the name Bleu de France and then
transferred last year to British line Saga, but its
refurbishment was interrupted after Italian
shipyard workers went on strike.
According to media reports, a recent
inspection of the ship uncovered 55
“deficiencies”, ranging from lack of training in
fire drills, to an incomplete lifeboat inventory.
The luxury ship suffered mishaps in its early
life, including a collision with a container ship
outside Hong Kong in 1992 and running
aground in Greenland in 1985.
Meanwhile, all passengers who were on Plancius
are “safe and sound” after a propulsion failure
occurred 10 days into a 31-day voyage.
While waiting to be rescued in South
Georgia, expedition crew have organised local
walks and excursions for passengers, the Dutch
operators report.
The rescue vessel, M/V Ushuaia, is now
enroute to South Georgia and is estimated to
arrive at midday tomorrow (18 April).
It is hoped that the vessel can depart the
same day with all passengers and crew and will
arrive in Montevideo, Uruguay on 24 April for
connecting travel arrangements.
The ice-class ship is sheltered in a safe
position resting alongside the jetty of King
Edward Point Research Station in Grytviken.
