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Viking cruise ship stranded off Australian coast due to fungus outbreak

A viking spokesperson described the marine fungi as 'standard marine growth'.

Large waves hit glass of Antarctica cruise ship as it navigates the Drake Passage

Large waves hit glass of Antarctica cruise ship as it navigates the Drake Passage

One American woman was killed, and four others were injured, after a rogue wave hit the cruise ship. (Credit: Ann Clark Mah)

Tourists hoping to enjoy a holiday cruise have instead found themselves stranded off the coast of Australia due to a fungus outbreak on the ship.

The Viking Orion, a lavish 14-deck, 930-person cruise ship built in 2018, has been refused entry at multiple ports and stuck at sea for five days due to a fungus outbreak in the ship’s hull, Daily Express reported .

The ship was originally supposed to travel from Sydney to Auckland and then to the New Zealand capital of Wellington, but it was blocked from entering Wellington and then from Christchurch, New Zealand.

The ship then traveled to Hobart on the island of Tasmania but was blocked from entering that port as well. 

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Viking Orion

The Viking Orion cruise ship seen berthed in Melbourne harbour on April 16, 2020, in Melbourne, Australia.  ((Photo by Udo Weitz/picture alliance via Getty Images))

The ship is now headed to Adelaide on the southern coast of Australia, but passengers have been informed they will not be stopping there but will instead anchor 17 miles off the coast. 

Once anchored, divers will be sent out to clean the ship’s hull with the hope that the ship will then be able to dock in Melbourne.

TURKISH TIFFANY'S TYCOON DIES AFTER MYSTERIOUS FALL FROM CRUISE SHIP

Aerial View over morning commuters towards the city of Melbourne from a hot air baloon, taken at dawn. Melbourne is the capital of Victora State, Australia

Aerial View over morning commuters towards the city of Melbourne from a hot air balloon, taken at dawn. Melbourne is the capital of Victoria State, Australia (iStock)

"We have been told we will be compensated," passenger John Davidson told 10 News First . "Currently, it’s 50 percent, but we think that offer is going to be improved going forward."

"The Viking Orion is currently anchored off Victor Harbor, Australia where a limited amount of standard marine growth is being cleaned from the ship’s hull—a standard cleaning procedure for nautical vessels," A Viking spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. "

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All aboard Viking Cruises' newest ocean vessel. (Jason Leppert)

"While the ship needed to miss several stops on this itinerary in order for the required cleaning to be conducted, she is expected sail for Melbourne as planned on January 1, and we are expecting the scheduled itinerary to resume completely by January 2. Viking is working directly with guests on compensation for the impact to their voyage."

Earlier this month, a Viking cruise ship in Antarctica was struck by a "rogue wave" that resulted in the death of a passenger .   

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Viking Orion: Cruise passengers stranded after marine growth halts ship

  • Published 2 January 2023

The Viking Orion in 2021

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded on a cruise ship off the Australian coast after a potentially harmful growth was found on its hull.

The Viking Orion was denied permission to dock in Adelaide after authorities discovered "biofoul" - an accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae or small animals.

This can allow invasive species to be imported into non-native habitats.

Officials said the ship's hull must be cleaned before entering Australia.

The Australian fisheries department said the management of biofoul was a "common practice for all arriving international vessels" and that the ship had to be cleaned to avoid "harmful marine organisms".

"Professional divers were engaged directly by the vessel line/agent to clean the hull while at anchor outside Australian waters," it added.

The ship was also reportedly denied permission to dock at Christchurch and Dunedin in New Zealand and Hobart, Tasmania.

Kenn Heydrick, a passenger, said they had not been able to leave the ship since 26 December. Four scheduled port stops had been missed, he said.

"The intensity of frustration and anger is growing among passengers," he said.

"The majority of passengers are trying to make the best of things and enjoy extended time at sea. But it is the excursions at four ports that we were looking forward to, and now are greatly missed."

The current itinerary has the vessel arriving in Melbourne on 2 January.

However, passenger Matt Roberts said they have now been told they will only be allowed off the boat momentarily, to be checked by immigration. The next chance for passengers to disembark will be on 4 January in Sydney.

He said the disruption was a shame - "because for many travellers, this might be their last opportunity to see this part of the world".

Another passenger called the holiday a "trip from hell" on Twitter.

"I have cried repeatedly for both the significant financial hit after saving for two years and the loss of memories and experiences," she said.

Workers prepare to clean the ship's hull

The 14-deck, 930-person ship - which was built in 2018 - has reportedly dropped anchor about 17 miles (27km) off the coast while the cleaning occurs.

In a statement, operator Viking admitted that a "limited amount of standard marine growth" was being cleared from the ship's hull and said that this had caused the vessel to "miss several stops on this itinerary".

But it said that it expected to sail towards the city of Melbourne in the coming hours, where it would dock on 2 January.

"Viking is working directly with guests on compensation for the impact to their voyage," it added.

In a letter on Friday, the ship's captain apologised that "the current cruise falls short of your expectations" and said a member of Viking's customer relations team would make an "adjusted offer of compensation" to guests in the coming days.

Another cruise ship travelling in waters around New Zealand suffered a similar fate after the discovery of an infestation of snails that were not native to the area.

Princess Cruises' Coral Princess underwent cleaning on 23 December, with passengers missing out on part of their itinerary, before the ship went on to dock in Christchurch, New Zealand on Christmas Day as planned.

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Passengers to be compensated after cruise ship denied entry to Australian, NZ ports due to 'marine growth' on hull

A large white cruise ship docked at a jetty.

Hundreds of passengers on a cruise ship arriving at the Port of Melbourne on Monday evening are expected to set foot on dry land for the first time in more than a week after a build-up of marine creatures and plants was cleaned off its hull.

Key points:

  • The Viking Orion was due to dock in Christchurch, Dunedin, Hobart and Adelaide after departing Wellington
  • It was denied permission due to a build-up of "biofoul" on its hull, with passengers stuck on board
  • The vessel pulled into the Port of Melbourne on Monday evening after being cleaned by divers off the SA coast

The Viking Orion, a 227-metre cruise ship which can carry up to 930 passengers, was cleaned by divers on Sunday about 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) off the coast of the South Australian town of Victor Harbor.

The luxury vessel, which is only four years old, hadn't docked since casting off from Wellington in New Zealand on Boxing Day, according to ship-tracking website VesselFinder.com .

It was reportedly denied permission to dock in Christchurch, Dunedin and Hobart before setting course for Adelaide.

Before it could arrive there, Australia's National Maritime Coordination Centre established that the ship had small amounts of biofoul — marine microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals — on its hull.

Authorities then ordered the Viking Orion's agent to have its hull cleaned before entering Australian waters.

"The vessel is required to undergo hull cleaning to remove the biofoul and prevent potentially harmful marine organisms being transported by the vessel," the federal fisheries department said in a statement over the weekend.

Cruise liner Viking Orion is moored at Station Pier in Melbourne

"Professional divers were engaged directly by the vessel line/agent to clean the hull while at anchor outside Australian waters.

"The management of biofoul is a common practice for all arriving international vessels."

Passengers on board the ship have been airing their complaints on social media over the course of the voyage, with one writing on Twitter: "After 2 years of waiting, Viking disappoints. Great food but poor ship hygiene. Buyer beware."

"I have cried repeatedly for both the significant financial hit after saving for 2 years and the loss of memories and experiences with my dad," wrote another.

The ship's master, Marko Snajdar, wrote a letter to passengers on Friday apologising for the situation.

"We acknowledge that the current cruise falls short of your expectations," he wrote.

"Viking is interested in keeping you as lifetime travellers, and we hope to see you under less exceptional circumstances on one of our ships in the future."

A Viking representative said the company was "working directly with guests on compensation for the impact to their voyage".

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  • Viking Orion ship stranded off the coast of Australia due to...

Viking Orion ship stranded off the coast of Australia due to fungus outbreak

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Travelers hoping to enjoy a holiday voyage instead found themselves stranded off the Australian coast due to a fungus outbreak onboard Viking OCEAN 's 980-passenger ship Viking Orion . The boat was refused entry at multiple ports and remained stuck at sea for 5 days due to a fungus outbreak in the hull.

The vessel was originally supposed to sail from Sydney NSW Australia to Auckland NZ and then to New Zealand's capital Wellington but was blocked from entering Wellington and later from Lyttelton-Christchurch .

Viking Orion then headed to Hobart Tasmania  but was again blocked from entering the port.

Viking Orion cruise ship

The ship sailed to Adelaide on Australia's southern coast, but passengers were informed they would not be stopping there but would instead anchor ~17 mi / 27 km off the coast. 

Once anchored , divers will be sent out to clean the underwater hull portion with the hope that the vessel will then be allowed to dock in Melbourne (Victoria Australia) .

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The Viking Orion in Turkey in 2021

Viking Orion: hundreds of passengers stranded on cruise ship off South Australia due to ‘marine growth’

Ship hasn’t docked in a port since it cast off from Wellington in New Zealand on Boxing Day

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Hundreds of passengers stranded on a cruise ship off South Australia are hoping to set foot on dry land for the first time in seven days after the vessel was unable to dock at several ports due to a “marine growth” – originally believed to be a form of fungus – in the ship’s hull.

The Viking Orion has not docked in a port since it cast off from Wellington in New Zealand on Boxing Day, according to ship tracking website VesselFinder.com.

The ship was reportedly denied permission to dock to have its hull cleaned in Christchurch, Dunedin and Hobart before setting course for Adelaide.

Before it could arrive there, Australia’s National Maritime Coordination Centre established that the ship had small amounts of biofoul – marine microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals – on its hull.

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Authorities then ordered the Viking Orion’s agent to have its hull cleaned before entering Australian waters.

“The vessel is required to undergo hull cleaning to remove the biofoul and prevent potentially harmful marine organisms being transported by the vessel,” the Australian fisheries department said on Sunday.

“Professional divers were engaged directly by the vessel line/agent to clean the hull while at anchor outside Australian waters.

Our @VikingCruises trip to NZ & Australia missed 4 of 8 ports b/c of dirty/biohazard ship hull. 800 people, mainly Americans, are upset and angry over negligence. Viking Orion. Disappointing after 2 years of waiting, anticipation, & $$$$. Help please. 🛳️👎 — Kenn Heydrick, EdD (@KHeydrick) December 31, 2022

“The management of biofoul is a common practice for all arriving international vessels.”

A Viking representative said the vessel would sail for Melbourne on Sunday and resume its itinerary by Monday.

“A limited amount of standard marine growth is being cleaned from the ship’s hull – a standard cleaning procedure for nautical vessels,” they said in an emailed statement on Sunday.

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“While the ship needed to miss several stops on this itinerary in order for the required cleaning to be conducted, she is expected to sail for Melbourne as planned on January 1, and we are expecting the scheduled itinerary to resume completely by January 2.

“Viking is working directly with guests on compensation for the impact to their voyage.”

The ship’s master, Marko Snajdar, wrote a letter to passengers on Friday apologising for the situation.

“We acknowledge that the current cruise falls short of your expectations,” he wrote. “Immediately upon your return a member of our customer relations team will contact you with an adjusted offer of compensation.

“Viking is interested in keeping you as lifetime travellers, and we hope to see you under less exceptional circumstances on one of our ships in the future.”

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An expert says the build-up of bacteria and barnacles on the ship hulls could cause extensive damage to the environment..

The Viking Orion cruise ship.

The biofoul had to be removed from the hull before the cruise ship could resume its journey. Credit: Viking Cruises

  • The Viking Orion cruise ship was not able to enter Australia for several days due to biofoul.
  • The biosecurity concerns associated with the build-up on the ship's hull is worrying, experts say.
  • Australia has tougher biofouling requirements compared to other countries.

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Viking Orion cruise passengers facing holiday hell as fungus outbreak leaves ship stranded

The vessel has been stuck for five days with passengers furious., australia: cruise ship denied entry to multiple ports.

A cruise ship has been stuck at sea off South Australia after a fungus outbreak growing on the ship's hull.

The Viking Orion has been refused entry at multiple ports, leaving the passengers on board stuck at sea for five days. 

As reported by 10 News First in Australia , the ship's route was supposed to take it from Sydney to Auckland, then New Zealand's capital Wellington.

However, the ship was blocked from entering Wellington and then Christchurch further south in New Zealand.  

Viking Orion

The Viking Orion then made its way to Hobart on Australia's island state of Tasmania, but was again refused entry.

Now, the ship is headed to western Australia where it will reach the city of Adelaide.

However, passengers still on board have received a statement from staff at the Viking Orion explaining that they will not be able to stop at Adelaide, and will instead anchor 17 miles away from the coast.

Divers will then be sent out to clean the hull in the hope that the ship will be able to make its way to Melbourne.

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The hundreds of people on the ship hoping to spend their New Year's Eve in Melbourne will be waiting nervously to see if their holiday from hell will end anytime soon.

Express.co.uk has approached Viking Cruises for comment.

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Viking cruise ship Viking Orion stranded off Australian coast due to fungus outbreak

December 31, 2022

Tags: Viking Cruises (Ocean & River)

The Viking Orion, a lavish 14-deck, 930-person cruise ship built in 2018, has been refused entry at multiple ports and stuck at sea for five days due to a fungus outbreak in the ship’s hull, Daily Express reported.

The ship was originally supposed to travel from Sydney to Auckland and then to the New Zealand capital of Wellington, but it was blocked from entering Wellington and then from Christchurch, New Zealand.

Full story https://www.foxnews.com/world/viking-cruise-ship-stranded-off-australian-coast-due-fungus-outbreak

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Cruise ship barred from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on hull

cruise ship australia fungus

By Hira Humayun

A cruise ship was prevented from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on the ship’s hull, according to statements issued by the cruise line and Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF).

The DAFF National Maritime Coordination Center was notified of “small amounts of biofoul” on the hull of the Viking Orion on December 28, DAFF said, adding that biofoul is a common accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on vessel hulls.

According to DAFF, the management of such biofoul is common practice for all incoming international vessels.

“To protect the marine ecosystems within Australian waters the vessel is required to undergo hull cleaning to remove the biofoul and prevent potentially harmful marine organisms being transported by the vessel,” DAFF said in its statement, adding that professional divers cleaned the hull while the ship was anchored outside Australian waters, approximately 12 nautical miles offshore from the port of Adelaide in the state of South Australia.

“While the ship needed to miss several stops on this itinerary in order for the required cleaning to be conducted, she is expected sail for Melbourne as planned on January 1, and we are expecting the scheduled itinerary to resume completely by January 2,” a statement issued by Viking said.

The statement added that Viking is working directly with guests on compensation due to the impact to their trip.

DAFF also confirmed that as per the current itinerary, the ship — which holds 930 guests — is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne on January 2.

Although this is the first cruise ship-related incident of 2023, it is not the first of the Australian summer season.

In November 2022, a cruise ship docked in Sydney with several hundred Covid-positive passengers on board . All those who tested positive — which included passengers and crew members — were isolated on the ship away from others.

The ship, the Majestic Princess operated by Carnival, was able to continue the rest of its Australia itinerary.

Pictured above: the Viking Orion ship in 2018.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Cruise ship passengers ‘stranded and claustrophobic’ after fungus outbreak

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Travellers enjoying a trip of a lifetime on a cruise ship became ‘stranded’ for nearly a week due to a fungus outbreak.

Passengers boarded the Viking Orion on Boxing Day ahead of a 15-day voyage through New Zealand and Australia.

But by the time they arrived in Wellington, the ship’s captain announced that a ‘marine growth’ had been found on the ship’s hull during an inspection.

As a result, the group would not be permitted to stop in any ports of New Zealand’s South Island.

The ship, which reportedly can carry up to 1,000 passengers, then carried on directly to southern Australia’s city of Adelaide, where a local company had been hired to clean the hull.

But further logistical issues and regulations delayed the process and, again, they weren’t permitted to dock.

Julie Reby Waas and her husband – celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary – were among the stranded passengers.

She said: ‘What we thought was it was really a New Zealand issue. But apparently it was also an Australia issue as well, because we weren’t permitted to go into Adelaide, and it had, the ship had to be cleaned outside of Australian waters.’

cruise ship australia fungus

According to a statement released by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, the ship was required to ‘remove the biofoul and prevent potentially harmful marine organisms being transported by the vessel.’

Since the cleaning process took longer than expected, the ship was forced to proceed forth to Melbourne.

Julie described the experience of being stuck at sea for eight days and forced to skip out on scheduled stops, especially Tasmania, as ‘enormously disappointing,’ but praised the ship’s crew for their ‘nonstop’ hard work.

She and others walked miles round the cruise ship to keep up their fitness and get fresh air.

Julie said: ‘Most of the people I think on the ship have kept their cool and have maintained a sense of humour. I think everybody is very tired of it.

‘The ship is beautiful, but you know, there’s only so much space to explore, and so I guess (it’s) claustrophobic in some ways.’

Today, January 3, Julie and the other Viking Orion passengers were told they would receive a voucher which would be worth the entire ticket price of the trip, and could be used for future cruises.

The Viking Orion is not alone in its predicament, as another cruise ship, the Coral Princess, was forced to skip out on several ports in New Zealand due to an infestation of snails back in December.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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Dirty Hull Bars Cruise Ship from Docking in Australia

Dirty Hull Bars Cruise Ship from Docking in Australia

The Viking Orion cruise ship in June

The Viking cruise ship was forced to drop anchor 12 miles offshore.

Pictured: the Viking Orion cruise ship in June

By Hira Humayun, CNN

(CNN) – A cruise ship was prevented from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on the ship’s hull, according to statements issued by the cruise line and Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF).

The DAFF National Maritime Coordination Center was notified of “small amounts of biofoul” on the hull of the Viking Orion on December 28, DAFF said, adding that biofoul is a common accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on vessel hulls.

According to DAFF, the management of such biofoul is common practice for all incoming international vessels.

RELATED: Cruise Ship Passenger Who Fell Overboard Talks About Ordeal

“To protect the marine ecosystems within Australian waters the vessel is required to undergo hull cleaning to remove the biofoul and prevent potentially harmful marine organisms being transported by the vessel,” DAFF said in its statement, adding that professional divers cleaned the hull while the ship was anchored outside Australian waters, approximately 12 nautical miles offshore from the port of Adelaide in the state of South Australia .

“While the ship needed to miss several stops on this itinerary in order for the required cleaning to be conducted, she is expected to sail for Melbourne as planned on January 1, and we are expecting the scheduled itinerary to resume completely by January 2,” a statement issued by Viking said.

The statement added that Viking is working directly with guests on compensation due to the impact to their trip.

RELATED: Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Hits Iceberg

DAFF also confirmed that as per the current itinerary, the ship – which holds 930 guests – is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne on January 2.

Although this is the first cruise ship-related incident of 2023, it is not the first of the Australian summer season.

In November 2022, a cruise ship docked in Sydney with several hundred Covid-positive passengers on board. All those who tested positive – which included passengers and crew members – were isolated on the ship away from others.

The ship, the Majestic Princess operated by Carnival, was able to continue the rest of its Australia itinerary.

The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Cruise ship barred from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on hull

cruise ship australia fungus

By Hira Humayun

A cruise ship was prevented from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on the ship’s hull, according to statements issued by the cruise line and Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF).

The DAFF National Maritime Coordination Center was notified of “small amounts of biofoul” on the hull of the Viking Orion on December 28, DAFF said, adding that biofoul is a common accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on vessel hulls.

According to DAFF, the management of such biofoul is common practice for all incoming international vessels.

“To protect the marine ecosystems within Australian waters the vessel is required to undergo hull cleaning to remove the biofoul and prevent potentially harmful marine organisms being transported by the vessel,” DAFF said in its statement, adding that professional divers cleaned the hull while the ship was anchored outside Australian waters, approximately 12 nautical miles offshore from the port of Adelaide in the state of South Australia.

“While the ship needed to miss several stops on this itinerary in order for the required cleaning to be conducted, she is expected sail for Melbourne as planned on January 1, and we are expecting the scheduled itinerary to resume completely by January 2,” a statement issued by Viking said.

The statement added that Viking is working directly with guests on compensation due to the impact to their trip.

DAFF also confirmed that as per the current itinerary, the ship — which holds 930 guests — is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne on January 2.

Although this is the first cruise ship-related incident of 2023, it is not the first of the Australian summer season.

In November 2022, a cruise ship docked in Sydney with several hundred Covid-positive passengers on board . All those who tested positive — which included passengers and crew members — were isolated on the ship away from others.

The ship, the Majestic Princess operated by Carnival, was able to continue the rest of its Australia itinerary.

Pictured above: the Viking Orion ship in 2018.

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Algae-ridden cruise ship asked to leave new zealand waters.

Viking Orion cruise ship.

Viking Orion at its naming ceremony Photo: Viking / Supplied

Cruise ship Viking Orion was restricted to visiting approved ports and asked to leave New Zealand waters because of algae on its hull, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said on Monday.

Viking Orion first docked in New Zealand in mid-December.

Biosecurity New Zealand environmental health manager Paul Hallett said approved ports can manage risk better than special marine environments, like Fiordland.

"Approved ports have regular surveillance, our teams are based there, and ships stick to regular vessel pathways," he said.

Despite the restricted status, Viking Orion still visited commercial ports in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland.

But Hallett said the ship was given a final departure date.

"Because of the level of algae and barnacles, the vessel was asked to depart New Zealand waters by 29 December. The vessel operators chose to leave Wellington after visiting it on 26 December, to have its hull cleaned in Australia."

The algae and barnacles, or biofouling, was picked up during regular Biosecurity NZ risk assessment and surveillance.

A Viking spokesperson said "a limited amount of standard marine growth [was removed] from the ship's hull in a routine cleaning procedure for nautical vessels".

The ship had to miss several stops on its scheduled itinerary "in order for the required cleaning to be conducted".

"Viking is working directly with guests on compensation for the impact to their voyage," the spokesperson noted, but declined to comment further.

It was believed the cruise missed three stops in Christchurch, Dunedin and Hobart.

Viking Orion was expected to arrive in Melbourne on 2 January.

Hallett confirmed the ship posed less of a risk than the Coral Princess, which had to have snails cleaned off the underside of the ship off the coast of Tauranga a week earlier .

"We know that nearly 90 percent of marine pests arrive in this country on the submerged surfaces of international vessels," he said.

"Such pests can adversely impact New Zealand's economy and environment. This is why New Zealand has some of the highest biofouling standards in the world.

"Some don't have any or minimal impact, but others can cause issues with our marine life, especially in sensitive areas like Fiordland and to commercial industries such as mussel farming."

High-risk organisms associated with biofouling include bivalves, such as mussels and oysters, foliose algae, hydroids, tunicates, sponges, and mobile organisms like crabs and starfish.

Inchcape-McKay Shipping managing director Craig Harris said it was unusual to see cruise ships needing to be cleaned.

He believed the lay-up of ships during the pandemic may be part of the problem.

"They are generally dry-docked and have their hulls cleaned and painted. At the moment, there's a shortage of facilities all around the world of underwater divers or cleaners.

"My suspicion is that's the reason why the ships just have not been able to comply fully."

It was the first time Harris remembered cruise ships being cleaned in New Zealand as they were normally cleaned to a high standard.

Cargo ships were often cleaned, sometimes multiple times a week, he said.

According to MPI, 6121 international vessels arrived in New Zealand between January 2020 and September 2022.

There were 377, or 6 percent vessels that were issued a notice of direction to address biofouling issues.

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Copyright © 2023 , Radio New Zealand

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St Vincent Times

Viking cruise liner stuck off Australia due to fungus outbreak

Due to a fungus outbreak on the ship, tourists who were expected to enjoy a holiday cruise instead found themselves stuck off the coast of Australia.

The Viking Orion, a luxurious 14-deck, 980-passenger cruise ship constructed in 2018, has been barred from several ports and has remained at sea for five days as a result of a fungus outbreak in the ship’s hull, according to the Daily Express.

The ship was meant to sail from Sydney to Auckland, then on to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, but it was prevented from doing so. Instead, it sailed from Christchurch, New Zealand.

The ship then sailed to Hobart, which is on the island of Tasmania, but it was also denied entry there.

The passengers have been advised that instead of stopping in Adelaide, which is located on Australia’s southern coast, the ship will anchor 17 miles offshore.

Divers will be dispatched to clean the ship’s hull once it has been anchored in the hopes that it can subsequently dock in Melbourne.

Passenger John Davidson told 10 News First, “We have been informed we would be paid. “Right now, it’s 50%, but we believe that offer will get better moving forward.”

cruise ship australia fungus

Editorial Staff

Our Editorial Staff at St. Vincent Times is a team publishing news and other articles to over 300,000 regular monthly readers in over 110 other countries worldwide.

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  1. Viking Orion ship stranded off the coast of Australia due to fungus

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  2. Viking Orion: Cruise passengers stranded after fungus halts ship

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  3. Viking Orion cruise passengers facing holiday hell as fungus outbreak

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  4. Third Australian cruise in weeks turns into 'nightmare' after fungus

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  5. A Cruise Ship Covid Outbreak Returns in Australia

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  6. Australian Cruise Liners

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COMMENTS

  1. Third Australian cruise in weeks turns into 'nightmare' after fungus

    Viking Orion cruise ship stranded 8 days at sea due to fungal growth outbreak. A passenger on the cruise ship Viking Orion describes what happened when a marine fungus outbreak on the ship's ...

  2. Cruise ship barred from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on

    A cruise ship was prevented from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on the ship's hull, according to statements issued by the cruise line and Australia's Department of Agriculture ...

  3. Viking cruise ship stranded off Australian coast due to fungus outbreak

    The Viking Orion, a lavish 14-deck, 930-person cruise ship built in 2018, has been refused entry at multiple ports and stuck at sea for five days due to a fungus outbreak in the ship's hull ...

  4. Viking Orion: Cruise passengers stranded after marine growth halts ship

    2 January 2023. By Elsa Maishman and Matt Murphy BBC News. Getty Images. The Viking Orion in 2021. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded on a cruise ship off the Australian coast after a ...

  5. Passengers to be compensated after cruise ship denied entry to

    The Viking Orion, a 227-metre cruise ship which can carry up to 930 passengers, was cleaned by divers on Sunday about 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) off the coast of the South Australian town ...

  6. Viking Orion: Cruise passengers stranded after marine growth halts ship

    The 14-deck, 930-person ship - which was built in 2018 - has reportedly dropped anchor about 17 miles (27km) off the coast while the cleaning occurs. In a statement, operator Viking admitted that ...

  7. Viking Orion ship stranded off the coast of Australia due to fungus

    Travelers hoping to enjoy a holiday voyage instead found themselves stranded off the Australian coast due to a fungus outbreak onboard Viking OCEAN's 980-passenger ship Viking Orion.The boat was refused entry at multiple ports and remained stuck at sea for 5 days due to a fungus outbreak in the hull.

  8. Viking Orion: Cruise passengers stranded after fungus halts ship

    6:18 pm on 2 January 2023. The cruise liner Viking Orion in 2020, moored at Station Pier in Melbourne. Photo: AFP/ William West. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded on a cruise ship floating off Australia's coast after a fungus was found growing on its hull and it was denied entry to Christchurch. The Viking Orion was reportedly denied ...

  9. Australia cruise ship stopped for biofoul cleaning will compensate

    William West/AFP/Getty Images. Viking Cruises will compensate hundreds of passengers on its Orion cruise ship after cruisers were forced to stay on board and miss multiple stops because officials ...

  10. Viking Orion: hundreds of passengers stranded on cruise ship off South

    Hundreds of passengers stranded on a cruise ship off South Australia are hoping to set foot on dry land for the first time in seven days after the vessel was unable to dock at several ports due to ...

  11. New Zealand, Australia Delay Cruise Ship Over Biofouling

    The cruise was the second from Australia for Viking after an absence of more than 1,000 days due to the pause in operations due to COVID-19 and Australia's extended ban on foreign cruise ships ...

  12. Biofoul delays cruise ship Viking Orion from docking in Australia ...

    The Viking Orion cruise ship was not able to enter Australia for several days due to biofoul. The biosecurity concerns associated with the build-up on the ship's hull is worrying, experts say.

  13. Viking Orion cruise passengers facing holiday hell as ship stranded

    A cruise ship has been stuck at sea off South Australia after a fungus outbreak growing on the ship's hull. The Viking Orion has been refused entry at multiple ports, leaving the passengers on ...

  14. Viking cruise ship Viking Orion stranded off Australian coast due to

    Tourists hoping to enjoy a holiday cruise have instead found themselves stranded off the coast of Australia due to a fungus outbreak on the ship. ... The Viking Orion, a lavish 14-deck, 930-person cruise ship built in 2018, has been refused entry at multiple ports and stuck at sea for five days due to a fungus outbreak in the ship's hull ...

  15. Viking cruise ship stranded off Australian coast due to fungus outbreak

    A Viking cruise ship in Australia on a holiday cruise has been stranded off the coast for five days and denied permission to dock due to a fungus outbreak in

  16. Cruise ship barred from docking in Australia due to fungal ...

    By Hira Humayun A cruise ship was prevented from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on the ship's hull, according to statements issued by the cruise line and Australia's Department of ...

  17. Hundreds of passengers stranded on cruise ship off the coast of ...

    The passengers on a Viking Cruises ship were left stranded off the South Australian coast after several ports refused the vessel to dock due to the "marine growth" in the ship's hull. ... algae, or small animals. Australia's fisheries department said the fungus, which it called biofoul, was "potentially harmful". Biofoul, an accumulation ...

  18. Cruise ship passengers 'stranded' after fungus outbreak

    Travellers enjoying a trip of a lifetime on a cruise ship became 'stranded' for nearly a week due to a fungus outbreak. ... on Boxing Day ahead of a 15-day voyage through New Zealand and Australia.

  19. Dirty Hull Bars Cruise Ship from Docking in Australia

    The Viking cruise ship was forced to drop anchor 12 miles offshore. (CNN) - A cruise ship was prevented from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on the ship's hull, according to statements issued by the cruise line and Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF). The DAFF National Maritime Coordination ...

  20. Cruise ship barred from docking in Australia due to fungal ...

    By Hira Humayun A cruise ship was prevented from docking in Australia due to fungal growth on the ship's hull, according to statements issued by the cruise line and Australia's Department of ...

  21. Algae-ridden cruise ship asked to leave New Zealand waters

    Cruise ship Viking Orion was restricted to visiting approved ports and asked to leave New Zealand waters because of algae on its hull, the Ministry for Primary Industries ... Hundreds of people were stranded on a cruise ship off Australia's coast after a fungus was found on its hull, and it was denied entry to ports in Dunedin and Christchurch. ...

  22. Passengers Stuck on Cruise Ship Because of Fungal Growth

    The Viking Orion cruise ship was prevented from docking Down Under due to fungal growth on the ship's hull. It was supposed to visit cities like Melbourne an...

  23. Viking cruise liner stuck off Australia due to fungus outbreak

    Due to a fungus outbreak on the ship, tourists who were expected to enjoy a holiday cruise instead found themselves stuck off the coast of Australia. The Viking Orion, a luxurious 14-deck, 980-passenger cruise ship constructed in 2018, has been barred from several ports and has remained at sea for five days as a result of a fungus outbreak in the ship's hull, according to the Daily Express ...