Carnival Cruise Line sues Spanish yard for strike causing delay in ship's refit

Spanish media have reported that US-based operator Carnival Cruise Line has filed a compensation lawsuit against Spanish shipbuilder Navantia due to a workers' strike that led to a cruise ship's planned refit being marred by delays.

The 110,400GT Carnival Liberty had originally been scheduled to undergo drydocking at Navantia's shipyard in Cadiz. However, a strike by subcontractors' employees at the yard had caused the ship's drydocking to be stalled.

Carnival Cruise Line parent company Carnival Corporation was subsequently forced to transfer the ship to Marseille for the necessary repairs to be completed.

Carnival has since filed a claim for €4.5 million (US$5.3 million) in damages against Navantia, as the delayed refit on Carnival Liberty had compelled the company to cancel the ship's scheduled departure for the Bahamas from New Orleans on Sunday, July 6. She will now instead sail out on July 13.

The delays at Navantia have been linked to a strike by metal workers throughout Cadiz province that began in June. The strike action has reportedly also affected a number of other local industries.

Carnival currently has 11 other ships scheduled to undergo drydocking at Navantia over the next three years, though the recent delay means it is unclear whether the refits would still proceed.