The final three departures of Polar Star’s Antarctica season are cancelled, as the ship needs urgent repairs following the assessment of divers in Antarctica last week.

Polar Star’s repairs are scheduled for completion in time for her May 3 ‘Islands of the Edge’ cruises in the UK, Ireland and Scotland.

On January 31, Polar Star hit an unchartered rock in near Detaille Island causing damage to the ship’s hull. There were no reported injuries and the ship was able to cruise to King George Island where passengers were disembarked on to other International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) vessels in the area.

All 70 passengers were transferred to IAATO ships Marina Svetaeva, Ushuaia and Expedition for the return trip to Ushuaia, while Polar Star traveled across the Drake Passage with only her crew aboard and arrived in Ushuaia on Sunday.