The Coast Guard is investigating an accident in which the cruise ship Pride of America hit a 2,800-pound navigational buoy on Saturday and dragged its anchor chain from Honolulu to Maui.

No injuries were reported, and the ship and its passengers were never in danger, Coast Guard and Norwegian Cruise Line officials said yesterday.

However, the 2,156-passenger ship had to extend its planned stay in Kahului Harbor an extra day while divers inspected the damage and officials investigated the cause of the accident.

"These things happen sometimes; ships occasionally run over aids to navigation. The cruise line followed all the right procedures," said Lt. John Titchen, spokesman for the Coast Guard's 14th District in Honolulu.

Investigators believe the ship hit the buoy as it left Honolulu Harbor on Saturday night.

Crew members did not notice the accident and only discovered the chain snagged in one of its two Azipod propeller systems after the ship was safely docked in Kahului Harbor, said Robert Kritzman, NCL America executive vice president and managing director of Hawai'i operations.

They notified the Coast Guard of the accident about 1 p.m. Monday, Titchen said. "The ship operated fine during the journey, and we believe it's safe to operate with only one of the propeller systems," he said.

As a precaution, however, the cruise line decided to keep the ship in port until a manufacturer's representative of the propeller system could certify that it was safe to use.

In addition to enjoying an extra day on Maui, passengers were given a $100 shipboard credit, free shuttles to Maui attractions and extra cocktail parties on board, Kritzman said.

Because the ship was in port for three days, company officials brought in extra tanks to unload fully treated sewage water rather than discharge it into the harbor, he said.

Titchen said the Coast Guard plans to investigate the circumstances of the collision, including the weather conditions and personnel on the ship's bridge at the time it occurred.

He said the 10-foot-high buoy at the entrance to Honolulu Harbor has been replaced and that Norwegian Cruise Lines has agreed to pay the estimated $6,000 cost of obtaining a new buoy.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.