#Cruiseliners - A megayacht cruiseship that has been docked in Dublin Port for the last five weeks due to detention by maritime authorities has finally been lifted today, writes Jehan Ashmore.
According to the Paris MoU, the principle regulatory authority for eliminating the operation of sub-standard ships, the authority has removed the M.Y. Variety Voyager from a list of ships under detention.
The small luxury Maltese megayacht cruiseship at just 1,593 gross tonnes, had begun the detention a month ago (1st August) by Irish Port State Control (a member state of the Paris MoU: see related coverage). Afloat awaits further details as to reasons for the extended duration of the Greek operated ship which as previously reported was expected to depart in mid-August.
Among the reasons cited for the detention of the Variety Cruises vessel as previously reported on Afloat, were concerns over the safe working order of lifeboats. According to the ship's agent last month this led to in port repairs to satisfy SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations.
Prior to the month-long detention, Variety Voyager arrived to Dublin Port on 27 July following a cruise-leg from a UK port (see original story). The four passenger deck ship offers intimate luxury cruising that is more akin to a private yacht based in the Meditteranean, from where the ship has operated since launched in 2012.
Due to the detention, guests of the 72-passenger capacity cruiseship were forced to abandon the cruise and were flown out of the country.
This morning Afloat tracked Varierty Voyager vacate Sir John Rogersons Quay and shift berths involving the short passage to Ocean Pier located downriver in the main commercial part of the port. This would be a brief berthing as this lunchtime the cruiseship departed the port after 35 days. The next port of call is Copenhagen, Denmark.
In an uncanny coincidence, Berlin, the last detained cruiseship in Dublin Port, docked in the capital today having sailed from Falmouth. The FTI Cruises ship catering for 415 German clientele, had been placed into detention during a call in June.
A subsequent call to the Irish capital by the 9,570 tonnes cruiseship took place at the beginning of August, the same day Variety Voyager was detained.
