Cruise ship carrying more than 5,000 people tilts and floods in heavy rain

Hit by strong winds and heavy rain, the Carnival Panorama cruise ship took on water and listed to one side.

The Carnival Cruise Line ship, which can carry more than 5,000 people, was traveling on the Mexican Riviera when it encountered severe weather that caused the ship to list significantly.

Images on Carnival Panorama earlier this week showed dishes sliding off dining room tables, water pouring from elevators, merchandise thrown off display shelves and children screaming.

A Carnival spokesperson told USA Today that the cruise ship "experienced wind and rain that caused it to capsize," a nautical term used to describe a ship that has taken on water and is listing to one side.

Carnival Panaroma Cruise

PHOTO: RITU MANOJ JETHANI

"The incident was quickly resolved and as the captain steered the vessel to calmer waters, crew members moved to assist passengers and clean up," the spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement.

There were no serious injuries and no significant impact on the ship's systems and performance. The ship's voyage was not affected and the ship is currently on its next voyage.

According to CruiseMapper, the incident occurred while the ship was on an eight-day cruise on the Mexican Riviera, departing from Los Angeles, USA on August 16. The itinerary included several stops in Mexico, including Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, La Paz and Cabo San Lucas. Passengers returned to California on Sunday, August 24.

In 2023, passengers on the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship found themselves in a similar situation when the ship encountered severe weather, with winds reaching 80 mph. Passengers reported TVs falling off walls, shattered glass, and earthquake-like conditions as it sailed between the Bahamas and Charleston, South Carolina. The ship eventually docked after a nine-hour delay and continued on its journey.

Flooded images on some yachts

PHOTO: CMH

Joanna Kuther, travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants, told USA Today that it is “very rare” for a ship to “list” or take on water due to weather, and that crews know how to keep the ship steady during storms. Ships are built and designed to handle these types of situations.

However, while rare, it does happen. Earlier this year, at least 16 people were injured on the Crown Princess cruise ship as it sailed through rough waters off New Zealand.

The Crown Princess was on a 14-day cruise departing from Sydney, Australia when it encountered strong winds on February 25.

"While in Fiordland, New Zealand, Crown Princess encountered strong winds when changing course, causing the ship to list slightly before stabilizing," a Princess representative shared. "Our crew responded quickly to resolve the issue, and there were no issues that affected the safety of the ship."

During the listing, water from the Lido Deck pool flooded into the Horizons dining area, but the area was quickly cleaned up and reopened. There was no structural damage to the ship.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-thuyen-cho-hon-5000-nguoi-nghieng-ngap-nuoc-trong-mua-lon-185250829085911036.htm