On 20th June, CMV’s cruise ship ‘Columbus’ was still languishing in Damen’s Rotterdam Schiedam drydock undergoing emergency rudder repairs.
She reported hitting an unidentified submerged object on 30th May while sailing from Amsterdam, bound for Norwegian Fjords. The ship was inspected by theport authorities, and was thought to have been cleared to resume her voyage.
However, the following night, the shipreported rudder/steering problems, believed to be the result of hitting the unknown object.
As a result, ‘Columbus’ returned to Ijmuiden Netherlandsassisted, by two tugs. She berthed at Ijmuiden on 2nd June, according to local reports
CMV said it had canceled cruises scheduled to depart from Tilbury, including the 27th June Baltic cruise.
Due to the highly specialised resources required to assess and repair the damage to part of the rudder control system it has not been possible to complete the required work in time for her next few cruises.
CMV said that it did have confirmation that ‘Columbus’would be leaving the shipyard on 7th July and will resume service on her following scheduled British Isles Discovery Cruise sailing from London Tilbury on 11th July, the company said in a statement.
The cruise companyclaimed that it had provided all passengers who were booked on the cruise departing 27th June with a range of alternative options.
