Aquasino under repair

LYNN – The Aquasino gambling boat is under repair and scheduled to sail next week after a collision two weeks ago in Lynn Harbor that a company representative said may have involved a sunken car.The collision damaged one of the 225-foot-long ship’s gear shafts, slowing down the ship and sidelining it after a successful summer season, said Aquasino chief marketing officer Jason Walsh.”Hitting a stolen vehicle that was dumped into Lynn Harbor is one of the theories,” Walsh said.The damage caused $200,000 damage to the vessel, said James Cowdell, director of the city development agency that owns the Marine Boulevard pier where Aquasino docks. The ship is insured, but Walsh said gambling boat owners faced difficulty scheduling time in a dry dock along the East Coast where the damaged shaft could be removed and replaced.Damage to the gear shaft knocked out one of the ship’s four engines, but, Walsh said, “The integrity of the hull was never in question.”The Aquasino is docked at the Marine Boulevard pier and divers removed the 30-foot gear shaft and worked through Friday fitting a new shaft into place.”The new one was brought in on a large flatbed truck; it’s heavy,” Walsh said.Walsh said the collision abruptly sidelined the ship in Lynn Harbor after a successful summer sailing season that began in June. He said 300 to more than 450 passengers have filed up the gangway onto the ship since June for twice-daily trips.Aquasino, at normal speeds, needs about 70 minutes to sail into federal waters where gambling is legal. The ship offers dining and entertainment, and it is outfitted with table games and slot machines.Walsh said the current sailing schedule – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Sunday – is scheduled to be “slightly modified” for the winter.Aquasino customers have stayed loyal to the gambling ship, Walsh said.”Our customer support has been incredible. The number of people who check in with us is just wild,” he said.He said sailing schedule updates will be available by calling 855-200-2933. The message activated Friday afternoon by a call to the number announced: “At this time dive teams are successfully installing our new gear shaft, which means we will most likely be running the week of Sept. 29.”