Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten the German cruise line, has confirmed it has extended the time its 184-expedition cruise ship Hanseatic will be out of action after a fire onboard, media reports say.

The ship, which was undergoing maintenance at Bremerhaven’s Bredo Werft, will now miss two cruises and is not expected to return to service until 16 August 2013.

The fire took place on 9 June during a welding operation of one of the ballast tanks had already caused two cruises to be cancelled: a 17 June voyage from Bremerhaven and a 4 July cruise from Tromso. The line has now called off its 14 July Svalbard and 1 August Kangerlussuaq cruises.