An holiday-maker died after a ship got caught in horrific weather last year, an official incident report has revealed.
On November 4, 2023, the Spirit of Discovery, operated by Saga Cruises, was caught in a storm in the Bay of Biscay.
It’s understood the liner had previously canceled a visit to the major cruise port Las Palmas, located on the northeastern coast of Gran Canaria, as the weather worsened.
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Crew onboard the Spirit of Discovery then made the decision to return to the UK when the liner ‘lost propulsion in heavy weather’ and began to be battered by force 11 winds.
The cruise ship - which hosted 943 passengers and 503 crew members at the time - was moving ‘violently’ in storm-force conditions, causing it to suffer ‘internal and external damage’.
More than 100 passengers were injured during the expedition and eight were rushed to hospital for treatment when the ship returned to dock in Portsmouth, England.
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One of the holidaymakers who sustained serious injuries later died, according to the official report.
"At about 12.30 on 4 November 2023, the passenger vessel Spirit of Discovery lost propulsion in heavy weather while crossing the Bay of Biscay," the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said, as per LBC.
"This led to the vessel moving violently while the crew restarted the vessel's propulsion. The propulsion issues, storm force conditions and vessel motions continued until the following morning when Spirit of Discovery was able to continue its passage.”
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The report confirmed that ‘all aspects’ of the accident have been considered and that the investigation has included a probe into the onboard staff response to passenger injuries and analysis of the vessel’s intended passage.
Preparations for operating in heavy weather and the medical treatment of all 100 injured passengers have also been looked into by the MAIB.
The interim statement added that the investigation is near completion while a full report for ‘consultation with the parties involved’ is expected to be issued shortly.
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A spokesperson for Saga Cruises said at the time that while the weather is ‘clearly beyond’ the company’s control, they did offer their ‘sincere apologies to all those affected’.
A representative added in a recent statement: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family of our guest who died following the storm in the Bay of Biscay last year.
"We are continuing to work with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, supporting their investigation."
Topics: Cruise ship, Weather, Travel, UK News
Ella Scott