Expedition cruise ship Clipper Odyssey arrived in Dublin today, still bearing the scars of an embarrassing encounter with a concrete pier at the weekend.
The 120-passenger ship crashed into the jetty at Fort George in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on arrival in the city on Saturday morning.
The concrete pier at the former British army base has recently been refurbished and Odyssey is the only major passenger vessel scheduled to use its facilities this year. Most cruise ships visiting Derry use the port of Greencastle, 20 miles away, or Lisahally, five miles from the centre.
A statement from the Port and Harbour Commission said the captain accepted full responsibility for the incident, which resulted in damage to concrete and metal railings. An electrical cabinet was knocked over and the jetty has been closed for repairs to be carried out.
No one was injured on the ship or on shore.
Clipper Odyssey, which is operated by Zegrahm Expeditions and sails a number of cruises each year for Noble-Caledonia, is currently chartered by the American operator Academic Arrangements Abroad, which specialises in prestigious art and history tours.
The ship spent Sunday night in port at Belfast, and is scheduled to return to the city on Friday.
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
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