During a storm in Mallorca, Spain, a cruise ship broke loose from its moorings and collided with a cargo ship.
Passengers on the Britannia, a Southampton-based P&O Cruises ship, recalled how the ship “floated like a paper boat” after breaking free. A footbridge was also washed away by the waves.
According to P&O, some people are being treated on board after suffering minor injuries. According to the company, the ship will remain in Palma for a technical evaluation.
The pilot had previously informed the passengers that “no structural compromise existed.”
People on board the ship captured videos and photos of the disaster, which included an emergency reaction and debris floating in the sea.
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- The P&O Britannia cruise ship crashes during storms in Mallorca
- Nearly 20 flights were canceled due to weather
The P&O Britannia cruise ship crashes during storms in Mallorca
A storm in Palma de Mallorca breaks her moorings and pushes P&O Britannia against another ship and against the rocks. The ship is not engaged and is being pushed into her position by tugs. pic.twitter.com/0RbdQIhPRT
– Stephen Marsh (@millermanuk) August 27, 2023
According to passenger Gavin McCoy, the “unexpected drama” occurred when “the local fire service and crew were conducting an emergency drill.” “A sudden storm of rain and wind ripped us from our moorings on the pier, breaking mooring lines, water hoses and causing the walkway to fall into the sea,” he said.
He was “sitting by the cafeteria window, and the first thing we saw was the blue reception tents by the pier floating in the air,” McCoy explained.
“We have drifted too far from the berth and collided with a nearby cargo ship.” Another passenger, Dale Hopkin, described the atmosphere on board as “crazy”, with the loungers “starting to spin”.
Mr Hopkin of Blackpool claimed that it was raining so hard that he could not see out of the ship’s windows. He said: “She floated away like a paper boat after breaking free of her moorings.”
“The employees couldn’t do anything else.” Tracey Hopkin, his wife, described the incident as “a bit dramatic” and said the ship came dangerously close to the rocks of the harbor breakwater.
Credit: GAVIN MCCOY
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” he said, after hearing “a really loud noise, a screeching sound.” She appreciated the crew’s efforts and said the captain provided regular updates.
Tilley Eve, another tourist, said “things were very bad” for nearly two hours, adding: “I felt like I was in the Wizard of Oz.” Some families, she added, had put life jackets on their children. Most likely, the storm is one of the strong storms that will hit the Balearic Islands.
Nearly 20 flights were canceled due to weather
The islands have been battered by torrential rains and wind gusts of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour. According to the Spanish airport operator, weather conditions caused the cancellation of almost 20 flights.
Weather alerts have been issued for areas of the archipelago until Monday. Over the public address system, the captain warned passengers that “there is no structural compromise, but deck five has suffered a little damage.”
A spokeswoman for P&O Cruises stated that they were “aware of an incident involving the Britannia on Sunday morning” and were “working to assess the situation”. McCoy claimed that everyone was safe and that “other than a few scratches and dings to one or more lifeboats sticking out of the ship”, there was “no problem with the ship”.
Credit: GAVIN MCCOY
“The many people who take tours by coach will be able to do so again,” he continued.
Passengers will have access to onboard entertainment and activities while technical staff inspect the ship, according to P&O. The trip began in Southampton and will end on September 1.
This is the second emergency aboard a Southampton ship in recent weeks, as the Queen Mary 2 broke free from her bow mooring line and drifted off the dock on August 4.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn