Explora Journeys has confirmed it has been forced to cancel the maiden voyage of Explora I because of a problem with materials used on the vessel.

The luxury cruise line said it was recently made aware of “an issue that some materials used on the ship did not meet the required safety certifications”.

The ship was due to set sail for the first time from Southampton on 17 July, but will now launch on 1 August, sailing from Copenhagen.

The Financial Times reported that Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri was told at the end of May that a supplier had lost its safety certification for one type of fire-resistant panel used on the ship.

According to the publication, up to 45 ships could be in operation with the faulty panels.

Explora Journeys ‘working tirelessly’ to fix problem

In a statement, the cruise line said: “Explora Journeys was only recently made aware before the delivery of Explora I of an issue that some materials used on the ship did not meet the required safety certifications.

“As the safety of our guests and crew is of the utmost priority we took the immediate and responsible decision not to take delivery, even though this meant that we had to cancel the ship’s first sailing to ensure she can be delivered with the highest safety standards and will have all appropriate safety certifications in place.

“We are working tirelessly with the shipbuilder Fincantieri to deal immediately and appropriately to replace the affected materials to ensure the safety and compliance of the ship.

“The work is currently underway, and the shipbuilder is discussing with the relevant classification societies to obtain the ship’s safety certificate as soon as possible, so that she will be ready for delivery on 24 July and her first sailing on 1 August from Copenhagen.

“We understand the disappointment the delay has caused our guests but their safety and that of our crew are of our first priority and we appreciate their understanding as we manage effectively this unexpected situation.”