P&O sets date for troubled cruise ship

P&O Cruises is confident its cruise liner Pacific Sky will be repaired in time for its scheduled departure from Auckland next week.

The vessel was forced to return to port this month after taking on water while on its way to Tonga.

A subsequent cruise, which was to have started from Auckland last weekend, was cancelled.

Passengers were given full refunds and were offered a discount on another Pacific Sky booking.

The Maritime Safety Authority has detained the ship at the Devonport naval base until it is repaired.

A P&O spokeswoman said the work looked to be going according to plan and April 2 remained the next sailing date for the vessel.

Authority director Russell Kilvington said there had been no change to the original estimate that the repairs would take until this weekend.

The Lloyd's classification society and the Maritime Safety Authority have to be satisfied the Pacific Sky is seaworthy before it can sail again.

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine