56-Year-Old Woman Medevac’d from MSC Orchestra off Sardinia Island, Italy – 31 December 2025

On 31 December 2025, a medical evacuation was carried out from the cruise vessel MSC Orchestra after a 56-year-old Peruvian passenger suffered a cerebrovascular stroke while en route to Valencia, Spain. The vessel was transiting the Gulf of Asinara off the coast of northern Sardinia, Italy, when the medical emergency was detected. Italian maritime authorities and coast guard rescue units coordinated a rapid response, and the patient was successfully transferred to shore and hospitalized.

The ship's medical team assessed the passenger and consulted with the International Radio-Medical Center (CIRM) in Rome, which determined that urgent hospital treatment ashore was required. Following the evacuation, MSC Orchestra was cleared to resume its voyage toward Valencia.

The medical alert was logged shortly before 06:30 a.m. as the vessel transited the Gulf of Asinara, approximately 50 nautical miles from Porto Torres in northern Sardinia. The ship's doctor consulted with CIRM in Rome, and the Italian Port Authority coordinated the response with the national Operations Center. The Coast Guard at Porto Torres instructed MSC Orchestra to adjust course toward a central area of the gulf where sea conditions were more favorable. A search-and-rescue patrol craft departed Porto Torres and rendezvoused with the cruise ship at approximately 09:50 a.m., about 5 nautical miles offshore. The passenger was transferred to the rescue vessel without complication and landed at the Porto Torres Port Authority pier around 10:25 a.m., where she was placed in the care of Italy's 118 emergency medical service and transported by ambulance to a hospital in Sassari for further treatment.

Affected passenger

• 56-year-old Peruvian national
• Condition: Cerebrovascular stroke

Fatalities

• None reported.

Injuries

• 1 passenger with cerebrovascular stroke requiring urgent hospital treatment.

Rescued

• 1 passenger successfully transferred to rescue vessel and transported ashore for hospitalization.

The Italian Port Authority coordinated the response with the national Operations Center in Rome and the ship's bridge. The Coast Guard at Porto Torres directed MSC Orchestra to adjust course toward favorable sea conditions in the Gulf of Asinara. A search-and-rescue patrol craft was dispatched and rendezvoused with the vessel approximately 5 nautical miles offshore. The patient was transferred to the rescue vessel and landed at Porto Torres, where Italy's 118 emergency medical service assumed care and transported her by ambulance to a hospital in Sassari.

Following the successful evacuation, MSC Orchestra was cleared to resume its voyage toward Valencia, Spain.