QM2, Queen Mary sails after damage

[snowshovel]

This from the Miami Herald

QUEEN MARY 2 RESUMES VOYAGE

The world's largest cruise ship was finally allowed to leave the port Thursday morning, two days after hitting a sea wall and damaging part of the vessel's propulsion system, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

 

Queen Mary 2 planned to sail Wednesday night at dinner time, and then by midnight, after crews inspected the damaged system and concluded the ship could sail. But those plans were on hold until the ship's damaged motor propeller could be removed, Coast Guard Petty Officer Dana Warr said Thursday. Steps to put the motor out of service were completed Thursday, Warr added, and the ship left around 6 or 7 a.m.

 

Even while the ship is at sea, the Coast Guard continues to examine how the luxury liner hit an underwater channel as it tried to leave Port Everglades Tuesday. ''We have determined the vessel is safe for voyage and for the passengers, but the cause and the reason and who's at fault is still under investigation,'' Warr said.

 

While one of the four motors will be inoperable because of the damage, Cunard Line, the ship's owner, said the ship can operate without a problem.