It was the hull of a cruise ship.
Tons of of passengers have been stranded on a Viking cruise ship off the coast of Australia for every week after a potentially harmful growth was found on its hull.
Viking Orion was not allowed to dock in Adelaide because of “biological contamination”, an accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae or small animals, reported the BBC.
The Australian Department of Fisheries said the 745-foot vessel, which may carry as much as 930 passengers, needed to be cleaned to forestall “harmful marine life” from infiltrating the country.
“Skilled divers were engaged directly by the ship’s line/agent to scrub the hull while at anchor outside Australian waters,” the agency said.
In accordance with the BBC, Orion was also denied permission to dock at Christchurch and Dunedin in Recent Zealand and Hobart in Tasmania.
In accordance with website VesselFinder.com, the ship has not stopped because it left Wellington, Recent Zealand, on Boxing Day.
Passengers were furious that their cruise was ruined because of 4 canceled stops.
Kenn Heydrick said nobody has been allowed to depart the ship since December 26.
![Viking Orion cruise ship](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/viking-orion-230102-35-1.jpg?w=1024)
“The intensity of frustration and anger is increasing amongst passengers,” he said. “Most passengers are attempting to make the most of the situation and luxuriate in more time at sea. But these are trips to 4 ports that we have been looking forward to, and now we miss them a lot.”
He criticized the company on Twitter.
“Dirty and biologically dangerous bottom of the ship. After 2 years of waiting Viking fails. Great food but poor ship hygiene. Buyers Beware” wrote Heydrick.
On Monday, he said in one other tweet that the ship had finally docked in Melbourne.
“I’m sad about the missed tours. #CruiseCalamity @VikingCruises”, wrote Heydrick.
But fellow traveler Matt Roberts said passengers had been advised they might only be allowed off the ship briefly for immigration screening.
The following likelihood to disembark shall be in Sydney on Wednesday, in response to the BBC.
Roberts said the disruption was a shame “because for a lot of travelers it may very well be the last opportunity to see this part of the world.”
The ship reportedly dropped anchor about 17 miles off the coast to be able to clean the hull.
In a press release, the company acknowledged that “a limited amount of sea standard growth” was cleared after Orion “missed several stops on this route”.
Added: “Viking is working directly with guests to compensate for the impact on their journey.”
In the letter, the captain apologized that “the current voyage doesn’t meet your expectations” and said passengers would receive a “tailored offer of compensation” for the inconvenience.