Cruise Passenger Died, More Than 100 Injured After Ship Was Hit by Winds Over 65 MPH, According to Report

Mar. 15, 2025

The ‘Spirit of Discovery’ cruise ship.Photo:Moritz Frankenberg/picture alliance via Getty

Lower Saxony, Moormerland: The cruise ship “Spirit of Discovery” sails over the Ems in the early morning. The ship for the British shipping company Saga Cruises started the evening before at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg for the transfer into the North Sea.

Moritz Frankenberg/picture alliance via Getty

Extreme weather has been blamed for leading to the death of a passenger on a cruise ship in 2023.

According to theBBC, the MAIB report stated that when the ship arrived at Portsmouth, eight passengers had to be taken to the hospital, with one later dying from their injuries.

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“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 report read, according to The Independent. “This led to the vessel moving violently while the crew restarted the vessel’s propulsion.”

The Spirit of Discovery ship on August 9, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal.Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Passengers seen on upper decks and stateroom balconies as the Spirit of Discovery, a 58,250 GT cruise ship operating for Saga Cruises, sails the Tagus River after leaving the city’s cruise terminal on August 09, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal. Portugal remains one of the most popular countries to visit in Europe. Having set a new record in revenue, Portugal’s tourism industry is back on track after COVID pandemic and geared up to reach new heights.

Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Corbis via Getty

The report added, “The propulsion issues, storm force conditions and vessel motions continued until the following morning whenSpirit of Discoverywas able to continue its passage.”

“The MAIB’s investigation has considered all aspects of the accident to determine the causes and circumstances ofSpirit of Discovery’s loss of propulsion in heavy weather and the on-board response, including analysis of the vessel’s intended passage, preparations for operating in heavy weather, the on-board response to passenger injuries and damage, and the medical treatment of injured passengers,” the statement continued.

In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Saga Cruises said,“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,” they added.

PEOPLE has contacted the MAIB for further comment.

source: people.com

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