The Nordic Empress - which spent Thursday night being slammed against King's Wharf in Dockyard after twice losing her bow line in gale force winds - is due to leave the Island today with her passengers on board.

And shipping sources said the 1,500-passenger cruise ship is unlikely to sail back to Bermuda next week - and may abandon the rest of her 2001 schedule.

No passengers or crew were injured on Thursday night, and a spokesperson for the ship said most were "just a little shaken".

But the ship received what appeared to be extensive damage to her hull, with a trail of dents to the front quarter of the 400-foot ship. In addition, the ship's passenger door was heavily dented. But Harbour Radio said last night that the ship had been given clearance to leave the Island this morning.

When The Royal Gazette arrived in Dockyard yesterday morning, the ship was closed, with no one being allowed on or off.

And she was being held against the dock to prevent further damage by tugs, Powerful and Faithful.

Customs officers were on board to give the ship clearance "in case it had to leave the Island if the weather broke", said one officer. Crews from the West End Development Company (Wedco) were on the scene surveying the damage.

"We've had tremendous damage to the pier here," said Wedco manager Edward Williams. "She couldn't get away from the dock and this is the result. At some point she will have to get away from the dock and anchor off somewhere. Hopefully there will be a window of opportunity."

He said it was too early to give an estimate of the cost of the damage.

Bermuda's other liners that remained in the Island during the gale managed to ride out the worst of the storm with no severe dramatics. The Pacific Princess and the Norwegian Majesty, which drifted away from Penno's Wharf in St. George's on Thursday after its bowline tore a bollard out of the dock, were also expected to leave the Island this morning.