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Cruise drama in Catania: couple falls into the water - all the details!
On May 30, 2025, an incident occurred on the Norwegian Epic in the port of Catania when strong winds blew the ship loose and passengers fell into the water. The crew and coast guard successfully rescued the affected people.
Cruise drama in Catania: couple falls into the water - all the details!
On Friday, May 30, 2025, passengers experienced the Norwegian Epic a chaotic situation in the port of Catania, Sicily. Strong winds caused the cruise ship to break away from the pier while some guests tried to get back on board.
The incident occurred shortly after 1pm local time when a female passenger fell from the gangway into the water after the mooring lines snapped one after the other. Her husband immediately jumped in to help her. The ship's crew and the coast guard were quickly on the scene and rescued both swimmers from the water.
Incident and reactions
Both rescued people only suffered minor injuries and received medical care. They were then transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed the incident and emphasized that safety measures were a top priority.
The cause of the incident is currently being investigated by the shipping company and port authorities. Initial reports indicate that a bollard had become detached from the pier, which, combined with the strong winds, caused the ship's lines to fail. At the time, the Italian weather service had issued warnings due to strong winds.
Consequences for the itinerary
After the Norwegian Epic regained control, the ship returned to port around 6:30 p.m. However, reboarding was delayed due to persistently strong winds that lasted into the early evening. Passengers stranded on land expressed frustration on social media over the lack of communication from the crew.
Finally, the reboarding process began at 7:15 p.m., six hours after the incident. Although the ship was initially scheduled to stop in Naples on May 31, this was canceled due to circumstances. Instead, the Norwegian Epic docked in Livorno as planned, having previously visited Santorini, Athens, the Olympic Games in Greece and Malta.
Visits to Cannes and an additional day at sea before returning to Livorno are also part of the modified itinerary. The Norwegian Epic has space for over 4,000 passengers and is on a ten-day round trip from Civitavecchia (Rome).
The May 30 incident is not the first of its kind. Similar incidents involving broken mooring lines have occurred in the past, highlighting maritime safety and optimal communication between crew and passengers in such situations. Further information and updates are expected from the authorities and the shipping company.