San Francisco is looking for more than $1.2m after a 2019 crash involving a Princess Cruise Lines ship that damaged a pier.
The California city filed the suit in the US federal court for the Northern District of California on 30 September against the Carnival brand and its tug provider, Baydelta Maritime, after the 2,600-berth Pacific Encounter (built 2002, ex-name Star Princess) slammed into Pier 23 while trying to dock at Pier 27 in October 2019.
The crash damaged three 18-inch diameter concrete piles supporting the north apron of Pier 23, the complaint said, as well as knocking loose part of its fender system, which sank in the space between the two piers.
“[San Francisco] is required to spend time, funds, and materials to investigate and repair the damage to the north apron of Pier 23,” the city's complaint read.
“At the time of the allision, it was daytime, visibility was clear, winds were light, and the tide at Pier 23 was an approximately 1.4 knot ebb. There was no fog, mist, or rain to interfere with anyone’s ability to observe the location, speed, and direction of each of the involved vessels, as well as the locations of the shoreline, Pier 27, and Pier 23.”
The Pacific Encounter was known as the Star Princess, until Carnival Corp shuffled the ship from Princess to a second subsidiary, P&O Cruises Australia, in 2020.
The cruiseship was being assisted by a tug when it was approaching the piers around 6:30 am (1330 GMT) when the collision happened, San Francisco alleges.
In October 2020, the city sent letters to Princess and Baydelta informing them that they were looking for the $1.2m and that it was Baydeltas’ duty to indemnify Princess, given a service contract between the two companies.
The city says neither company have agreed to its demands.
It alleges negligence and breach of contract.
Princess declined to comment, as did Baydelta, with the tug provider citing company policy against discussing legal matters.
