Norwegian Cruise Line will repair the Norway and return it to
service after the May 25 boiler explosion that killed seven crew
members.
"The damage was extensive, but we feel it is manageable," said
NCL spokeswoman Susan Robison. "We do not have a timeline in place
yet of when or where we would do the repairs."
NCL canceled five cruises by the Norway, including those
scheduled to depart June 15 and June 22.
All passengers will receive full refunds. Travel agent
commissions are protected on the canceled cruises, although only
for bookings that were paid in full for the June 15 and June 22
cruises.
The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating
the cause of the accident.
"It may be a couple of months or even up to a year before they
release the results," Robison said.
At press time, nine crew members remained hospitalized: one in
critical condition while rest were stable.
Robison defended the condition of the Norway, a 43-year-old
steamship originally known as the France. It met all of the
requirements of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) conventions, she
said.
The Norway boilers are powered by steam, rather than the diesel
fuel used on most modern passenger ships. The boilers were rebuilt
in 1999.
"If the ship is well-maintained, its age isn’t really an issue,"
Robison said.
