Incident Asia Malé, Maldives · 4 March 2026
Passenger transfer on Costa Deliziosa – Malé, Maldives – 6 March 2026
What happened
Costa Deliziosa departed Malé on Wednesday evening, 4 March, after embarking 28 Italian nationals who had been unable to depart the Maldives due to disruptions to regional air travel.
Information shared onboard indicated the ship accepted the passengers after a request was received from the Italian Consulate in Malé. The vessel’s master, Severino Palomba, stated the individuals had been stranded when scheduled commercial flights were unable to operate due to prevailing conditions affecting aviation in the region.
The vessel sailed from Malé at approximately 6:00 pm local time, with the additional passengers joining the ongoing voyage. The ship was reported to be sailing a segment of a global itinerary across the Indian Ocean and southern Africa, with Cape Town scheduled for 18 March.
Injuries and casualties
- Fatalities: None reported
- Injuries: None reported
- Passengers Affected: 28 Italian nationals embarked in Malé due to disrupted air travel
Emergency response
- Not specified
- Not specified
- Not specified
Investigation
Not specified
- Not specified
- Not specified
Operator response
Not specified
Conclusion
Costa Deliziosa embarked 28 additional passengers in Malé following a request from the Italian Consulate and departed at approximately 6:00 pm local time. The vessel continued its scheduled voyage toward subsequent ports, with Cape Town listed as a planned arrival on 18 March.