The cruise industry has seen a rise in popularity over the years, making it one of the most lucrative sectors in the tourism industry. However, like any other vessels, cruise ships can get damaged and require repair or even complete overhaul. The question of where damaged cruise ships go is a matter of concern for many, including those who work in the industry and passengers who are curious about what happens to their favorite vacation vessels.
When a cruise ship gets damaged, the first action that is taken is to assess the extent of the damage. The severity of the damage will determine the next course of action. If the damage is relatively minor, the ship may be able to continue with its scheduled itinerary while repairs are carried out. This is usually the case for scratches, minor denting or damage to balconies, and other areas of the ship that can be repaired quickly and easily.
However, in cases of more severe damage, the ship may need to be taken out of service and sent to a shipyard for repair work. Cruise ship repair yards are usually located in major shipping ports around the world where there are large docks, qualified workforce and necessary equipment. These yards are specially designed and equipped to handle large vessels like cruise ships and offer a range of services including dry-docking, steelwork, painting, refurbishments, and complete refitting of the ship.
For example, after the Carnival Splendor suffered an engine room fire in 2010, it was towed to a shipyard in Mexico where it underwent a three-month-long repair process, which cost almost $65 million. During that time, passengers had to be evacuated from the ship, and the crew was left with a lot of work to do when the ship finally returned to service.
In cases where the damage is so extensive that repairs are no longer viable, the ship may be scrapped completely. This is a last resort and is only usually done when the ship is too old, has reached the end of its life, or is deemed unsafe for navigation. Most of the scrap yards are located in South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh where labor is relatively cheap and environmental regulations for scrapping obsolete ships are lax due to poor regulatory oversight.
Cruise ships are valuable assets that require regular maintenance and the occasional repair work. When damage occurs, the ship may be able to continue with minor repairs or require major repairs that take the ship out of action for a while. In some unfortunate cases, the ship may be deemed beyond repair and scrapped. Regardless of the outcome, the safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always the top priority, with the ultimate goal being to get the vessel back in action as soon as possible.