A marine accident report concluded a cruise ship guest died of injuries sustained during a major storm.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said more than 100 guests were injured in a heavy storm in the Bay of Biscay, north of Spain. Eight guests were hospitalized and one of these later died from their injuries.
The incident happened in November 2023. The report is the first public acknowledgment the incident led to the death of a passenger. The Saga Cruises ship, Spirit of Discovery, was caught in a violent storm after returning to the UK from the Canary Islands.
The ship planned to see the storm at La Coruna, Spain, but the port had closed due to the weather. The ship crew then decided to head straight home to Portsmouth, England. The ship was then lashed by powerful winds whipping up 25-foot waves in the Bay of Biscay.
Ship Lost Propulsion During Heavy Storm
The MAIB interim report said the stormy conditions caused the propulsion safety system to activate, causing the ship to veer to the left and come to an abrupt halt.
“The Spirit of Discovery lost propulsion in heavy weather while crossing the Bay of Biscay. This led to the vessel moving violently while the crew restarted the vessel’s propulsion” the report states.
“The propulsion issues, storm force conditions and vessel motions continued until the following morning when Spirit of Discovery was able to continue its passage.”
“The MAIB investigation considered “all aspects to determine the causes and circumstances of Spirit of Discovery’s loss of propulsion in heavy weather.” It also looked at the immediate response to guest injuries and the treatment of those injuries.
The cruise line said all guests on the trip were offered a full refund: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family of our guest who died following the storm in the Bay of Biscay last year.”
The MAIB says the investigation is continuing but expects to conclude very soon. Saga is a UK-based travel firm offering a comprehensive tour and vacation program and its own cruise line specifically for the over-50s market.
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