The Italian Coast Guard had to come to the aid of one of the largest cruise ships in the world after it lost power for several hours in the Mediterranean.
The MSC World Europa, carrying around 8,500 guests and crew, lost propulsion early on Monday, as it sailed between Genoa and Naples.
Ship Adrift Off Italian Coast Early on Monday
The ship ran adrift for a short period. It anchored a few nautical miles off the Italian coast and ship generators were able to maintain essential ship services while Coast Guard patrol boats were dispatched.
World Europa was around eight nautical miles southwest of the island of Ponza when it lost propulsion.
Coast Guard officers boarded the ship and after a few hours, repairs restored partial power. The ship was able to continue to Naples at around 15 knots alongside a tug boat escort.
Coast Guard officials said the situation remained “calm and under control” on the ship throughout the day.
“MSC World Europa is sailing with its propulsion system partially restored, following a previously encountered technical issue. A thorough technical inspection will be carried out as soon as the ship reaches Naples. All onboard services continue to operate regularly, and there are no conditions that compromise the safety of guests or crew,” the cruise line said in a statement.
Ship Continued to Naples With Tug Boat Escort
The ship reached Naples late on Monday evening. It will continue the scheduled embarkation of new passengers in Naples as planned but noted its planned departure from the port will be subject to a further technical inspection.
The ship’s week-long itinerary had included calls in Malta, Barcelona, Marseille and Genoa. Launched in 2022, MSC World Europa was the first cruise ship to surpass the 200,000 gross ton milestone.
