Read Authentic Ratings for the Serenissima

On May 21, divers conducted a thorough inspection of the hull of the 'Serenissima' in Oban Bay following its successful refloating at 1:10 a.m. The vessel, which had remained afloat at the stern, became grounded at Corran Ledge the previous evening during high tide, which peaked around midnight. Initial attempts to refloat the ship were made using its engine, while a lifeboat assisted by pulling at the stern. However, strong winds drove the vessel towards the shore, rendering the effort unsuccessful. Investigations revealed that the 'Serenissima' had navigated incorrectly around a navigation buoy, leading to an encounter with the Isle of Mull ferry as it entered Oban Bay from the north. The ship was part of an 11-day 'Great Gardens and Houses of Britain and Ireland' tour that departed from Poole on May 11, with plans to embark on a seven-night Hebridean cruise from Oban on May 21. Carrying 112 individuals, including 61 passengers, the vessel became stranded in sand and gravel around 6:30 p.m. on May 20. Fortunately, Stornoway Coastguard has confirmed that there were no injuries reported, and the 'Serenissima' showed no signs of pollution or damage. For more details and images, refer to the following sources: [BBC](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22603212), [STV](http://news.stv.tv/scotland/226158-coastguard-called-out-after-passenger-ship-runs-aground-in-oban-bay/), [Herald Scotland](http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/cruise-liner-is-stranded-after-entering-oban-the-wrong-way.21137257), [Oban Times](http://www.obantimes.co.uk/2013/05/20/cruise-liner-goes-aground-in-oban-bay/).

In a notable maritime incident, the passenger vessel Serenissima has successfully returned to safety after running aground on the scenic west coast of Scotland. The 87-metre ship became stranded on a combination of sand and gravel in Oban Bay at approximately 6:30 PM on Monday, May 20. Fortunately, all 61 passengers and 51 crew members were unharmed during the grounding. The vessel encountered difficulties while navigating past a location known as Corran Ledge while traveling from Ireland to the port of Oban. Thankfully, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) confirmed that there were no injuries reported and no pollution or water ingress issues identified. Initial efforts by the crew, along with the assistance of the Oban RNLI lifeboat team, faced challenges due to strong winds; however, the Serenissima was successfully re-floated around 1:10 AM the following day. Currently, the Serenissima is anchored in Oban Bay and is scheduled for a dive inspection later today. For further updates and photographs, visit the news link.

According to Maritime Matters, Premier Cruises, Ltd., an independent entity from the previously established cruise line of the same name, is poised to relaunch the 117-passenger vessel SERENISSIMA for its European voyages starting April 2013. This intriguing ship, known for her storied past, was initially constructed in 1960 by A/S Trondheims Mek. Verksted at Trondheim, Norway. Originally named HARALD JARL, she was purpose-built for the Norwegian Coastal Express service, marking the first full-size Hurtigruten ship to emerge from Norway since 1942. Throughout her remarkable 41-year tenure, the HARALD JARL served with distinction, initially sailing under the aegis of the coastal company Det Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskab (NFDS) before transitioning to Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskab (TFDS), maintaining her operations entirely within Norwegian waters. In 2001, the ship embarked on a transformative journey as she was sold and rebranded as ANDREA in 2002, entering a new phase of her lifespan as an expedition ship. Her adventurous spirit took her to remote destinations across both hemispheres, captivating explorers and voyage enthusiasts alike. Elegant Cruises & Tours once promoted sailings on the ANDREA until their operational cessation in April 2009. After being seized, the ANDREA was left laid up at Split, Croatia. For further details, visit Maritime Matters at http://maritimematters.com/2012/04/premier-cruises-to-return-1960-vintage-vessel-to-service/