A ferry which was confined to port after failing safety checks has failed its second inspection in two days, safety officers said today.
Bosses with Swansea-Cork Ferries had predicted that normal service would resume this evening following a reinspection of the City of Corktoday.
But company hopes of relaunching the service were sunk early this afternoon due to continued problems with the crew's emergency drill procedure.
More than 300 passengers were left high and dry yesterday when inspectors with the Maritime Coastguard Agency banned the vessel from leaving Swansea port.
The extended ban will stay in force until MCA inspectors are satisfied the crew is able to carry out emergency procedure properly.
Mr Mark Clark, an agency spokesman, said: "There is no way that vessel is going anywhere this weekend.
"We have just left the vessel and it has failed the inspection for a second time."
Mr Pat Casey, a spokesman for the ferry operator, said MCA inspectors had no criticism of the vessel but were dissatisfied with the safety drill of some of the crew.
He added the extended ban will see five separate services cancelled including this evening's, two on Saturday and one each on Sunday and Monday.
The 11,000 tonne ferry has a 1,060 passenger capacity and is almost twice the size of the vessel it was bought to replace.
It was built in 1973 for the Viking Line and has previously operated in the Baltic, and on services out of Cork to a handful of French Channel ports.
It is due to start regular Swansea to Cork overnight runs between Wales and Ireland from next autumn.
PA