Deadly Storm Hits Cruise Ship In Bay Of Biscay, Leaving 1 Dead & 100 Injured

A cruise passenger died, and over 100 others were injured after the ship Spirit of Discovery, operated by Saga Cruises, was hit by rough weather on November 4, 2023.

Per a report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), the incident was caused by storm-force winds of over 64 mph and 25-foot waves in the Bay of Biscay, forcing the ship to change its direction and return to the United Kingdom.

The Spirit of Discovery, carrying 943 passengers and 503 crew members, was en route from Puerto del Rosario in the Canary Islands to Las Palmas when it encountered gale-force winds classified as force 11 on the Beaufort Scale.

During the storm, the ship’s propulsion system malfunctioned, causing a sudden loss of power and intense veering and rocking while crew members tried to restart the engines.

After experiencing severe weather and propulsion issues, the ship was able to reroute to A Coruña before returning to Portsmouth the next morning.

When the ship docked in Portsmouth two days later, eight passengers were hospitalized due to the injuries they sustained during the incident.

One of the passengers was declared dead later.

The MAIB report confirmed that the ship suffered internal and external damage while it withstood the storm. In response to the report, Saga Cruises extended its condolences to the family of the dead passenger.

A spokesperson said that Saga is fully cooperating with the MAIB investigation, which is focused on understanding the cause of the propulsion failure, evaluating the ship’s readiness for heavy weather, and assessing the onboard response to injuries and medical needs during the storm.

The MAIB has clarified that its investigation is not meant to blame anyone but rather to identify potential improvements in maritime safety to avoid similar incidents in the future.

The agency is currently in the final stages of its investigation and plans to provide a comprehensive report after consulting with relevant stakeholders.

References: People, BBC

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