Spirit damage forces ship out of action

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30/05/2005

Spirit damage forces ship out of action

Six Spirit of Tasmania III sailings have been cancelled in August and December because the ship has to undergo repairs after its stabilizer was damaged last month.

Spirit ceo Peter Simmons said the ship’s scheduled August dry-docking had to be extended for repairs to be made.

It would also need to re-enter the dry-dock in December.

“Specialist engineers from Blohm & Voss Germany have inspected the stabilizer and indicated damage was most likely caused by contact with cable from abandoned fishing equipment,” said Simmons. “To complete the required repairs, the stabilizer must be removed and sent to Germany, necessitating a four day extension of the planned dry docking period, originally scheduled July 24 to August 7.”

Sailings on August 7 and 13 have been cancelled.

“Spirit of Tasmania III will then have to return to dry dock in December to have the equipment refitted,” Simmons said. “This will unfortunately result in the cancellation of a further four sailings.”

Simmons said Spirit of Tasmania’s reservations call centre had begun contacting affected passengers.

“We are sorry to have to inconvenience these passengers and we will be offering them a 50 per cent discount to take an alternate sailing, or they can choose a refund,” said Simmons. “We are expecting most passengers will take up the 50 per cent offer and we will do our utmost to assist passengers with the changes to their holiday plans.”

The affected December sailings are December 4 from Sydney to Devonport, December 5m from Devonport to Sydney, December 6 from Sydney to Devonport and December 10 from Devonport to Sydney.

30 May 2005

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