SeapixOnlineDisplaying 8 of 53 PACIFIC SUN (1986/47546grt/IMO 8314122, ex-JUBILEE. Renamed HENNA in 2012 and HEN prior to scrapping in 2017) - Relieved passengers arrive back in Auckland. Forty-two passengers are reported injured aboard P&O Australia's PACIFIC SUN after she rolled 20 degrees when caught in mountainous seas whipped up by the violent storms which have swept across New Zealand this week.
The 47546grt cruise ship was reportedly 600 kilometres north of New Zealand when hit by 7metre swells and 50 knot winds on Wednesday.
Some of the 1732 passengers aboard said it was a case of "hang on and hope" as gaming machines, crockery and furniture in the casino came loose and began sliding around.
Reports received from PACIFIC SUN said that 42 passengers have needed medical attention mainly for varying degrees of bruising although earlier NZ media reports mentioned that some passengers had sustained broken limbs. It is also rumoured that one passenger has lost a finger.
Although the ship's two doctors and three nurses treated and discharged most passengers, three were still receiving medical treatment as the ship made its way back to Auckland where it berthed on Friday afternoon. All three were said to be in a stable and comfortable condition.
Passengers have heaped the utmost praise on the crew for their professionalism saying that "the Captain and crew did a great job".
The ship at no stage issued a distress call and a Maritime New Zealand inspector boarded the ship to conduct a safety inspection soon after arrival at Auckland's Queen Wharf. However a spokesman for Maritime New Zealand said that as the ship is not New Zealand-registered and the incident occurred so far out at sea, NZ has no jurisdiction over the vessel but could insist that any damage be repaired before the vessel is allowed to sail on her next cruise on Saturday evening. Damage to the vessel has been described as only "superficial" and some Australian passengers openly admitted when questioned by local TV reporters that many of the New Zealand passengers were acting "like drama queens", reminding them that they had been on a cruise, that these things happen at sea and you have to expect this when faced by Mother Nature.
P&O spokesperson Anthony Fisk said that passengers who have lost two days sailing on the next cruise due to the delay caused by the events of the last couple of days will be paid compensation on a "case-by-case" basis. Compensation is also being considered for some of the passengers of the storm-battered cruise.
Keywords: Cruise/Passenger ships, pando, p&o, p and o, cruiseships, cruise ships, passenger, liner, pax, cruise, travel, passenger, passenger ship, passenger craft, holidays, vacations, relaxation, tourism, tourists, destinations, auckland, new zealand, nz, city of sails, downunder, aotearoa, travel trade, traveltrade, cruise new zealand, cruise nz, ports of auckland, port of auckland, ships, shipping, transport, transportation, logistics, trade, commerce, ship photos |
|
Copyright SeapixOnline 2023