Chaos in the harbor: Norwegian Epic cruise ship tears off!

Chaos in the harbor: Norwegian Epic cruise ship tears off!

On May 30, 2025, a dramatic incident occurred in the port of Catania, Sicily, with the cruise ship Norwegian Epic of the shipping company Norwegian Cruise Line. At 1 p.m. local time, the ship was torn off by strong gusts of wind when several moored linen tore. This led to a dangerous situation in which two passengers, a couple, plunged into the harbor basin.

In the incident that was triggered by wind speeds of about 20 knots (40 km/h) and gusts of up to 30 knots (55 km/h), the passengers heard loud noises and screams. A passenger described that noise development was enormous during the incident and reported on the tense atmosphere on board. Immediately after the fall of the passengers, his wife's husband jumped to rescue.

rescue measures and injuries

The quick reaction of the 118 emergency services, including the police, coast guard and on -board staff, prevented worse. Both passengers were recovered with minor injuries and for medical examination. They were reported to be aware at the time of their rescue.

The incident also caused damage to the ship and in the harbor. A bollard was torn out, shifted concrete slabs and a crack in the pier were created. After the return of the ship to the harbor basin, the passengers experienced chaotic scenes.

passengers in the queue

Over 3,600 passengers were stranded on the shore for more than seven hours because the port authorities closed the checkpoint. No entry or exit was possible, and passengers expressed their frustration about poor communication on the part of the Norwegian Cruise Line. During this time, only one toilet and no food and no drinks were available to the passengers.

The passengers were forced to wait for improvement in the weather conditions before the ship could be returned and the damaged mooring lines could be replaced. It was only in the evening that the passengers were able to go back on board the Norwegian Epic.

Catania, known for its Italian cuisine and the historic old town, is the popular destination for short vacation. Nevertheless, the events related to the Norwegian Epic have raised questions about safety in moderate wind conditions. So far, the shipping company has not made an official statement on the incident.

This incident was a challenging experience for everyone involved, but in retrospect the fast rescue measures and the ultimately secure return of passengers on board seem to have averted the greatest damage. Further information can be found on ABC News