The reason for the long period (more than a year) of airing between the last episode of the previous season and this episode is that main cast member Gorden Kaye suffered serious brain injury during a storm on January 25th 1990. From this episode on, a scar can be seen on his head as a result of the major surgery he had.
First episode with Roger Kitter playing captain Alberto Bertorelli and Robin Parkinson playing Ernest Leclerc.