Pacific Sky Repairs On Track For April 2 Departure

Pacific Sky Repairs On Track (For April 2 Departure)

P&O Cruises said today the repairs to Pacific Sky were progressing well at the Devonport Naval Dockyard in Auckland.

"We are on track to finalise the repairs comfortably before the next scheduled cruise departure on Wednesday 2 April," P&O Cruises managing director Gavin Smith said.

"Whilst the repairs are localised, it has been necessary to remove sections of the outer hull to access the internal down flooding ducts that needed heavy steel plating replacement. Coffer Dams have been fabricated at the Devonport yard and attached to the ship. These enable the cutting and welding to take place in a watertight environment." "The work is being done by Babcock's Devonport Yard work force, P&O's own engineers and the specialist cruise ship tradesmen we have flown in from Europe and North America. This is being supervised by P&O Princess Cruises most senior technical team from Los Angeles," Mr Smith said.

The work is being conducted to the satisfaction of the Classification Society, being Lloyd's Register of Shipping, and monitored by New Zealand Maritime Safety Authority who have worked closely with P&O throughout the repairs.

Once the repairs are completed, then Lloyd's and MSA will carry out a final inspection before the ship leaves Auckland.

Mr Smith said passengers booked on the next cruise to Tonga, Samoa and Fiji departing 2 April could receive updates by visiting the Company's website at http:// http://www.pocruises.co.nz.

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