Intrepid Travel will cancel its next departure to Antarctica on February 6 due to damage sustained to the outer hull of its expedition ship MV Polar Star.
The Polar Star hit an unsurveyed rock on January 31 on the Antarctica Peninsula. All four Intrepid Travel passengers, including one Australian, and crew onboard, were safe and uninjured.
The Polar Star was inspected and deemed safe to sail with all passengers and crew to the South Shetland Islands.
The Polar Star will undergo repairs to the damaged outer hull.
Intrepid Travel’s Meg Koffel said Intrepid passengers who are unable to transfer to a later sailing would be given a full refund.
“It’s too early to say whether more departures will need to be cancelled,†she added.
Agents are encouraged to check Intrepid Travel’s Safety Page (www.intrepidtravel.com) for updates and information.
