Repairs Will Set Back Norway Longer than Expected

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has been evaluating several bids from shipyards for repairs to the S/S Norway. The company announced today it would lay up the S/S Norway at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven Germany, until a final decision has been made on which yard will be appointed. The detailed bids from shipyards are largely in line with the preliminary indications given, but with one major and critical exception. Although all of the work around the damaged boiler can be completed within the time frame first envisaged, the delivery timeframe for the new replacement boiler itself is estimated to be between seven to 12 months, a timeframe that is significantly longer than first indicated to NCL. Marine boilers are manufactured by specialized companies and then delivered to a shipyard for installation. The detailed specification and bidding process has revealed that no boiler maker is able to meet the ambitious repair deadline initially indicated to NCL by the shipyards. NCL now estimates that the earliest the ship could return to service is spring of 2004; however it is not yet possible to be certain of this timeframe. In June, with the information available at the time, NCL announced the ship would return for the October 5th sailing after more than four months out of service. Travel agents and consumers have naturally been requesting definitive information regarding that return date in order that both marketing and vacation plans can be made with complete certainty.