MIAMI -- A
construction barge struck the Enchantment of the Seas during its
call in Key West, Fla., creating a six-foot hole in the ships hull.
Royal Caribbean
International said none of the 2,040 passengers or 741 crew onboard
were injured in the crash, which occurred at 8 a.m. on Nov. 5,
while the Enchantment was docked at its berth in Key
West.
The barge created a
puncture in the forward port side of the hull about six feet long
and one foot wide, roughly six feet above the water line, Royal
Caribbean said.
Temporary repairs
have been started, and the line said it expected the Enchantment to
depart Key West for Cozumel, Mexico, on schedule. The company does not expect to cancel any future sailings
of the ship.
Royal Caribbean said
it was participating in a U.S. Coast Guard investigation of the
incident.
To contact
the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to Rebecca Tobin
at [email protected].