Princess to assess fallout from fire

Princess Cruises’ Star Princess arrived in Grand Bahama shipyard in Freeport yesterday for initial repair work following a fire last week in which one passenger died and a number of others were injured, writes Sandra Speares .

A spokesman for Princess said the decision whether to send the ship back to Italy for refurbishment at Fincantieri had not yet been taken.

Unofficial sources said damage to the ship could be as high as $50m. Claims for compensation following the death of one passenger from a heart attack and injuries to a further 11 people will also be a consideration.

The extent of damage to the ship was still being assessed, the spokesman said.

Following a preliminary safety assessment over the weekend, the company said it was cancelling a further cruise due to leave Fort Lauderdale on April 2. While the formal investigation into the accident is being carried out by the vessel’s flag state the Bahamas, a team from the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch is providing assistance and the US Coast Guard has launched its own investigation.

Cruise passengers booked on the next sailings are being offered full refunds and cruise credits on a future voyage.

"Star Princess" will be repaired at Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany, prior to resuming service on May 15th.

Best,

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Originally posted by J.S.S.Normandie:
A little over a month? That doesn't inspire much confidence to the quality ot the work.

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Originally posted by r.fiebig:
Hello everybody,

"Star Princess" will be repaired at Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany, prior to resuming service on May 15th.

Best,

Raoul

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I think that's an optimistic schedule by Princess and I personally think the repairs will take longer. She won't leave the Bahamas until the end of the week so she won't get to Germany until the first week in April. That will leave about 5 weeks to do the work.

I would not be surprised to get an update after the ship arrives at Lloyd Werft saying that after further analysis the repairs will take longer.

It also sounds like they are just going to attempt to repair the damage and not do anything to prevent a repeat performance. That would imply that everything "worked as designed" including fire suppression systems and balcony design. If that is the case, I would hate to see what they consider a design failure.

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Originally posted by timb:

No offense but what makes you qualifed to make that assesment. It may be inconcievable to you but that doesn't make it impossible

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While not purely simple and easy, I'm sure they are already in the process of fabricating new cabin modules and replacement furniture for the effected areas. As long as there is not extensive structural damage, it's possible they could cut out the outer bulkheads, slide out the old cabins and slide in new ones the next day after a little cleanup by the night crew. Remember, in this sort of case, they will work 3 shifts and likely just plug in any new cabins faster than repairing existing ones. Hook up the ducting and wiring and after welding them in, attach the newly fabricated baclonies.

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Originally posted by Ernst:

...I doubt that they will come up with new saftey systems like sprinklers on balconies during this refit. Personally, I think they have to revise their safety concepts - but on the other hand this has to be done carefully. Also, not only Star Princess would need such a refit.

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I agree.

I believe that this incident will eventually result in new safety requirements for ships with balconies in general.

As for the schedule, I've just seen this before. Initial estimates are often unrealistic and events transpire to cause delays.

Recent examples where the initial dates were missed: Celebrity Millennium (shipyard finances), Pride of America (unrealistic damage assessment), Sapphire / Diamond (unrealistic damage assessment).

On top of all this, just enough time has passed for the lawyers to get their paperwork ready for filing.

Who knows, if the heart attack victims death can be tied directly to the fire, whomever started the fire might be guilty of a serious crime. Then the ship becomes a crime scene. Where have I heard that before?

Luckily for the cruise lines, jurisdiction in these matters is a bit murky so they can usually proceed with the business of making money without having to subject themselves to the pesky details of a formal investigation...

It’s easy to blame a smoker because they are often are responsible for fires. However so is electrical wiring.

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Malcolm wrote:
...The easiest thing for cruise lines is revise their rules about smoking in cabins and on balconies...

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And also on open decks.

It is possible that an inconsiderate or drunk smoker on an upstairs open deck could have easily flicked a smouldering butt overboard onto a balcony below. The wind could have drawn it to the balcony onto a cushion or even into an open stateroom. My point of view, and I think many here will agree, is that smoking should be banned on a ship regardless of where it is.

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STAR PRINCESS To Germany For Repairs

March 28: Princess announced that the damage assessment for STAR PRINCESS following last week's fire has been completed. STAR PRINCESS will sail this week, from Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, The Bahamas, where she was being inspected, to Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany for repairs of the damaged cabins and balconies.

The ship will be taken out of service until she begins her planned European cruise season, sailing from Copenhagen May 15.

[ 03-28-2006: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

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Originally posted by mike sa:
Bear in mind the Emerald Princess is currently under construction and the Crown is near complete, it is entirely possible that there are already cabins in existance that could easily be shipped from Italy to Germany within a couple of days in order that they can be slotted into the Star, the cabins on all 3 are identical.

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