Massive storm causes cruise ship to abruptly halt, leaving 100 passengers injured
Saga Cruises' Spirit of Discovery ship encountered a storm in the Bay of Biscay while attempting to reach the UK ahead of inclement weather During a safety maneuver, the ship abruptly tilted to the left, leading to injuries among approximately 100 of the 1,000 passengers on board
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The 1,000 passengers on board a cruise ship experienced a horrifying ordeal when the vessel was struck by storms, resulting in injuries to 100 individuals.
The Spirit of Discovery ship from Saga Cruises encountered severe weather conditions on Saturday while completing the last part of its 14-day European voyage in the Bay of Biscay - an area of the Atlantic Ocean located off the west coast of France and north coast of Spain. The cruise, called the "Canary Island Quintet," had departed from Portsmouth in the UK on October 24 and had offered guests the opportunity to enjoy "winter sun" on the beautiful Canary Islands, which are a Spanish territory situated off the northwest coast of Africa.
The ship was scheduled to make a brief stop on the island of Madeira before continuing its journey to the Canary islands of La Palma, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria. Following two days at sea, it would then arrive at La Coruña in Spain before making its way back to Portsmouth after another day at sea.
Once again, the three-year cruise is facing delays.
Everything went according to plan until day 10, November 2nd, when the ship encountered approaching storms en route to Gran Canaria. In order to stay ahead of the inclement weather, the officers made the decision to cancel the stop and head straight for La Coruña. However, as the ship was on its way, the port closed, prompting the decision to continue the journey to Portsmouth instead. The distance to be covered was over 600 nautical miles, and at least two days of travel were expected, with the hope of staying ahead of the storm.
Saga Cruises did not provide a response to inquiries regarding why the ship did not attempt to dock elsewhere or turn back, instead of proceeding with the journey. The scheduled itinerary included two "at sea" days between Gran Canaria and La Coruña, as well as a third day from Spain to the UK.
In a statement shared with CNN, CEO Nigel Blanks asserted that the company adheres to the most stringent health and safety protocols. Each decision made regarding the storm was guided by advice from the ship's Master and forecasts from our committed marine meteorologists. Throughout the ordeal, we made every possible effort to prioritize the safety of our guests and offered expert medical care to those who were injured.
The fallout
As the storm raged in the Bay of Biscay, the safety system of the ship's propulsion was triggered, resulting in a sudden shift to the left and an abrupt halt. Approximately 10% of the passengers on board were injured, with five reported to have sustained serious injuries.
The ships crew then decided to stay in position, rather than attempt to continue the journey to the UK.
The Bay of Biscay is notorious for its treacherous weather and high waves.
Passengers took to social media to share their harrowing experiences, with several expressing their fears of impending death.
A concerned individual on X (formerly known as Twitter), whose parents were among the passengers, recounted the "unimaginable" ordeal of being forcefully thrown to the ground in the dining area, with tables and crockery crashing down upon them.
"Why did the captain hastily venture into the storm from the Canaries?" they questioned.
Accompanied by a screenshot, they revealed the ship's location on Saturday night, emphasizing that it was the sole passenger vessel present in the Bay of Biscay during the storm.
A passenger shared a video with the BBC showing the ship being battered by the waves, while a crew member announced a "code alpha" in the dining room, indicating a medical emergency onboard.
Another told of how the captain warned passengers over the intercom to sit or lie down, and said they were "holding on for dear life."
All passengers have now disembarked.
The ship after its arrival back at Portsmouth, following the incident.
Ben Micthell/Press Association via AP
A spokesperson for the company said in a statement:
The Spirit of Discovery unfortunately encountered challenging weather conditions on its return to the UK this weekend. Despite the ship remaining safe, some guests sustained injuries as a result of the storm. Immediate medical treatment was provided by the onboard medical staff. While we cannot control the weather, we extend our sincere apologies to those affected, who have now safely returned home after sailing in calmer seas.
Currently, the ship has reversed its course and resumed its journey for the next cruise. Vesselfinder, a tracking website, last located the ship off the southern coast of England, after departing from Portsmouth for Lisbon. The ship's route will once again take it through the Bay of Biscay, with hopes for a smoother crossing this time.
