A damaged cargo vessel which limped into Bermuda is being held while emergency repairs are made.

The Government has slapped a temporary detention order on the Green Island , barring it from leaving the Island until its badly corroded hull is mended.

In addition to a 90-foot by 30-foot hole in its side, marine surveyors also discovered rust in the internal structure of the 34,000 tonne vessel.

Shipping Registry officials are working closely with the ship's US owners and Meyer Industries to rectify the problem -- which they believe may also occur on sister vessels.

Pat Nawaratne, principal marine surveyor, said the fact the vessel -- which was en route from Singapore to the US -- had a double-bottom probably saved it from sinking.

A combination of heavy seas and the state of the structure caused the hull plate to fall off.

He said its bulkhead construction also prevented the in-rushing sea water from flooding the engine room.

"The structure damage was very bad, you could see light through it,'' he said. "When she came in surveyors inspected the damage and assessed its condition. Then divers looked at the bottom, and it was decided she couldn't go any further. We felt the weakening of the internal structure combined with the bulkhead deterioration contributed to the damage.'' Welding is currently taking place inside the structure with new plates being put in. Then the outside hull will have to be finished. The vessel will be in Bermuda for at least another two weeks.

The ship's owners, Waterman, and the US Coast Guard are cooperating in the operation. And on the vessel's return to America, a full repair will begin.

Mr. Nawaratne said the incident had brought major lessons to be learned, which would help ensure that same sort of accident didn't happen again.

"The important thing is that there are a number of sister ships of the same age. There is a good opportunity for the owners to examine their other vessels.'' Before the Green Island is allowed to leave, it will have to comply with the Safety of Life at Sea Convention and marine pollution regulations.

"They must repair to a satisfactory standard before they are allowed to sail off,'' he said.

Joe Simas of Meyer Industries said it was a major repair, which the company was helping with.

Cargo from the vessel was unloaded at St. George's and Dockyard, and this week was reloaded onto another vessel, the Atlantic Forest , for final delivery to North Carolina.