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Introduction
On August 27, 2023, the Britannia cruise ship encountered an unfortunate incident in Port Palma de Mallorca. The ship broke its mooring lines due to severe weather conditions, drifting within the harbor and colliding with the Castillo de Arteaga, a nearby cargo ship.
Details of the Incident
Around 10 am UTC, adverse weather conditions caused the Britannia to break its mooring lines, resulting in minor hull damage primarily to deck 5. Several passengers were treated for minor injuries at the ship’s Infirmary. While both the Britannia and the cargo ship Castillo de Arteaga sustained minor damage, they remained seaworthy. The ship was close to hitting the breakwater but avoided contact with the rocks.
Operational Context
The incident occurred during a 14-day “Mediterranean Cruise,” causing a delay as Britannia remained in Palma until August 28th, and the scheduled stop at Gibraltar was canceled. A third-party inspection found one of the lifeboats damaged, leading to the disembarkation of 321 people who were then flown back home. The weather in the area was particularly harsh, featuring torrential rain and wind gusts up to 120 km/h.