Storm damage may delay voyage to Hawai'i

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride in America, under construction in Bremerhaven, Germany, took on water during a storm and is listing at a 15-degree angle. The damage could delay the ship's planned inaugural Hawai'i cruise in July. Associated Press

The ship tilted in its berth as winds gusting up to 100 mph whipped the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany, where the ship is under construction.

The 921-foot Pride of America with 15 guest decks was submerged up to its third deck and listing at an angle of about 15 degrees. The ship is now secure and resting on the bottom of about 30 feet of water, according to the cruise line.

Norwegian could not say immediately whether the ship will be ready for its inaugural Hawai'i cruise in July. The shipyard was scheduled to complete the vessel and deliver it to Norwegian in late April.

"Right now we know of no potential delay in the delivery. We don't know," said Norwegian spokeswoman Susan Robison. The shipyard will need several days to assess the damage, she said.

The $350 million ship must be refloated before Lloyd Werft can determine whether delivery will be delayed, Norwegian said. The shipyard hopes to refloat the ship within days.

According to news reports, the ship took on water during the storm, tilted and sent a construction crane crashing into a building, slightly injuring three workers.

The 2,156-passenger ship is scheduled to begin the first of its seven-day Hawai'i cruises on July 4. The voyage would mark the revival of U.S.-flag cruises in Hawai'i and has been creating employment for U.S. workers, including many from the Islands.

Norwegian plans to employ nearly 1,000 Americans to work aboard the ship and has hired hundreds of workers who have been undergoing training.

"Hopefully the damage to the vessel is not extensive enough to delay its inaugural voyages here in Hawai'i," said Marsha Wienert, Gov. Linda Lingle's tourism liaison.

Norwegian has sold many tickets for the Pride of America's initial cruises. Danny Ching, president of Non-Stop Travel, a major seller of Norwegian cruises in Hawai'i, said he's telling customers that he is optimistic that there will be enough time to repair the ship and get it back on track.

"If not, we'll let them know," Ching said. "All we can do is just move them to a different sailing or refund the money."

Robison said Norwegian needs more information before any changes to its cruise schedules or employment plans are made, but meanwhile employees will continue to be recruited and trained.

Norwegian took applications at the Job Quest Fair and Apprenticeship Expo yesterday at Neal Blaisdell Center, and is holding recruiting events this month in Minneapolis, Milwaukeee, Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, St. Louis, Kansas City, Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas.

Dawnann Cabiles, who was hired by Norwegian last year and who was scheduled to leave for Germany Jan. 31 to help prepare the ship, is worried about the latest news.

"I just don't know what I'm going to do," Cabiles said. "I don't know if I should go look for a job or I'll just wait to hear from them."

She has been counting on starting work soon. After being selected by Norwegian last year, she trained aboard the Norwegian Star but has been without a paycheck since November.

At Cabiles' home in Pearl City, "things are getting tight," she said. "I'm really sad. I hope it's just a setback and they get things fixed."

The Pride of America would join the foreign-flagged Norwegian Wind that cruises around Hawai'i but which must stop at Fanning Island.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470 or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.