Cruise ship itineraries are sometimes delayed or shifted, due to anything from sick passengers to bizarre weather conditions, but this week saw a P&O Cruise ship, the Iona, miss its departure from Bembridge in the Isle of Wight because of ... bananas.
According to The Independent, the delay was due to 16 shipping containers falling off of a cargo ship near the port. Eight of the containers contained bananas, one held avocados, and two contained plantains; the other five were reportedly empty.
A coastguard spokesperson said, “HM Coastguard is continuing to work with the relevant authorities after 16 containers went overboard from the cargo ship Baltic Kipper in the Solent on 6 December. This includes working with the vessel’s owners who are responsible for recovering the containers.”
The coastguard said that two of the containers came ashore at Selsey, about eight miles across the Solent strait, where recovery teams were in place. The public was advised to avoid the area and said that all wreck materials had to be reported if found
Passengers on Iona were about to embark on a two-week sailing to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands. It was scheduled to set sail on Saturday but finally received clearance to sail on Sunday.
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