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Introduction
Sapphire Princess recovered five bodies from the sea after investigating a possible man-overboard report during a Western Mediterranean voyage on April 21, 2026.
What Happened
A crew member first observed an orange object drifting in the water and reported it to the bridge. The object was identified as a lifejacket, prompting the ship to alter course and investigate. The crew then saw five bodies approximately 140 miles off Cabo de Palos, in waters between Spain and North Africa.
Response and Investigation
The ship launched a search and recovery operation and recovered the bodies over approximately three hours. The deceased were reported not to be passengers or crew members of Sapphire Princess. Spanish authorities received the bodies when the ship arrived in Cartagena and began inquiries into their identities and the circumstances of the deaths.
- The incident occurred during a 14-day relocation voyage from Civitavecchia to Copenhagen.
- The ship’s captain addressed passengers and advised that support services were available.
- Authorities considered a possible connection with a migrant vessel reported missing in the region.