Boat Rescue Operation by MSC Preziosa: Incident on November 20, 2023

Introduction

On November 20, 2023, the MSC Preziosa cruise ship played a pivotal role in a maritime rescue operation near Ilha Grande, Brazil. Responding to an SOS call from a sinking fishing boat, the ship’s crew assisted in saving the lives of six fishermen. Tragically, one crew member of the fishing vessel lost his life in the incident. The rescue operation was a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies and showcased the critical importance of emergency response at sea.

Details of the Incident

The incident unfolded near Jorge Grego Island (Ilha Grande, Brazil), where a fishing boat with seven crew members was in distress. Despite the efforts to save the vessel, it eventually sank near Ilha Grande. Six of the fishermen were rescued, while one unfortunately perished.

Following the rescue, the survivors were taken to the village of Vila do Abraao and subsequently transferred to the mainland at Angra dos Reis City’s Santa Luzia Pier. The coordination of the rescue involved a Civil Defense ambulance and a Fire Department boat. At Santa Luzia Pier, SAMU (Mobile Emergency Care Service) and CBMERJ (Military Firefighters Corps) ambulances transported the survivors to a hospital. The body of the deceased was recovered by firefighters from the submerged vessel and transferred to Angra dos Reis’ IML (Instituto Medico Legal) for identification.

Operational Context

This maritime rescue occurred during MSC Preziosa’s 3-day “South America Cruise,” a roundtrip journey from Santos/Sao Paulo, visiting Buzios. The incident, while tragic, highlighted the readiness and cooperation of various emergency response teams in maritime rescue operations.