MCA holds ‘unsafe’ cruise ship

Passengers from the cruise ship Vistamar have been transferred to Dublin while the vessel remains impounded in Belfast, undergoing repairs demanded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
A snap inspection revealed several breaches of safety code, including missing and broken fire doors, and inadequate PA systems and emergency lights for lifeboats.
The ship, built in 1989, carries 290 passengers and is operated by German company Plantours. It is currently in the middle of a round-Britain cruise and docked in Belfast on Wednesday en route from Invergordon in Scotland.
An MCA inspection of the ship in London in 2006 also found deficiencies including damaged lifeboats and missing escape signs.
Bill Bennett, Surveyor in Charge from the MCA’s Belfast Marine Office said: “We take passenger safety extremely seriously, and we will not allow vessels to traverse our waters where clearly international standards of safety are being breached.
“We apologise to any passengers who may have been inconvenienced by this action, but we hope they understand this detention has been undertaken in their best interests.”