MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard says a cruise ship that will carry passengers from South Florida to the Bahamian island of Bimini isn't ready yet for its maiden voyage.
Cmdr. Janet Espino-Young says several safety deficiencies have been corrected since it failed its initial inspection. But the Coast Guard safety official says the ship operators must still address issues related to fire safety and emergency power.
The Bimini SuperFast is operated by Malaysian conglomerate Genting Group. The ship will carry around 1,500 passengers to the resort and casino it operates on Bimini, about 50 miles east of Miami.
It was supposed to start runs from Miami on Friday but the Coast Guard wouldn't issue the safety certificate. Espino-Young said Wednesday she is working with the company to resolve the situation.
