Passenger dies after cruise ship hit by storm force 11 winds, report

A report shows that a passenger aboard the Spirit of Discovery died from his injuries after the cruise ship was struck by force 11 winds in the Bay of Biscay.

More than 100 guests were injured in the storm on November 4, 2023, and eight were taken to hospital when the ship arrived in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

An interim report by the Maritime Accidents Investigation Branch (MAIB) shows that one of the passengers treated at hospital later died from his injuries.

Prior to the incident, the Saga Cruises-operated Spirit of Discovery had to cancel a visit to Las Palmas as the weather worsened and instead sailed towards La Corona while that port was closed due to conditions.

The ship’s crew decided to return to the UK when the ship’s propulsion safety system activated during bad weather, causing it to suddenly turn left and come to an abrupt stop.

The MAIB report said there were 943 passengers and 503 crew on board when the vessel, which departed Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, encountered winds of force 11 and a sea state rated at very high of 8.

It said: “On November 4, 2023, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the passenger ship Spirit of Discovery lost propulsion due to severe weather conditions while transiting the Bay of Biscay.

“This led to the ship moving rapidly while the crew restarted its propulsion.

“Propulsion, storm strength and ship movement problems continued until the following morning, when Spirit of Discovery was able to continue its passage.

“Over 100 passengers were injured during this period. “Eight seriously injured passengers were taken directly to hospital upon arrival in Portsmouth, England, and one of them later died from his injuries.”

It continues: “The MAIB investigation considered all aspects of the accident to determine the causes and circumstances of the loss of Spirit of Discovery propulsion during severe weather conditions and the on-board response, including an analysis of the ship’s intended passage, preparations for sailing in severe weather conditions, onboard response to injuries and damage passengers and medical care for injured passengers.”

The interim report states that the investigation is almost complete and a full report will then be issued for consultation with the parties involved.

In a statement following the incident, Saga Cruises said: “Spirit of Discovery unfortunately experienced severe weather this weekend as she began her return to the UK.

“The ship remained safe throughout, but some guests were injured as a result of the storm impact.

“Everyone was immediately treated by the on-board medical staff.

“While the weather is clearly beyond our control, we want to sincerely apologize to all those affected, who have now returned safely and sailed home to calmer seas.”