Massive wave hits cruise ship

A cruise ship had to be diverted for emergency repairs after it was hit by a massive “freak” wave that flooded cabins and injured several passengers. According to the New York Times newspaper, The Norwegian Dawn, which was en route from the Bahamas to New York with 2,000 passengers on board, was hit by a 21-metre wave amid a bout of “extremely rough weather”. The wave smashed cabin windows on the ninth and tenth floors of the liner, reports state, resulting in the flooding of more than 60 cabins. A spokesman for the Norwegian Cruise Line is quoted as saying: “The sea had actually calmed down when the wave seemed to come out of thin air at daybreak. Our captain, who has 20 years on the job, said he had never seen anything like it. The safety and integrity of the ship was in no way compromised by this incident.” The New York Times reports that The Norwegian Dawn was diverted to Charleston, South Carolina, for repairs, and has been delayed for around 24 hours. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd www.newsfromabroad.com