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P&O cruise ship with thousands of passengers onboard crashes into tanker

A small number of people were injured after the ship collided with a freight vessel, article bookmarked.

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A small number of people are injured after a P&O cruise ship that was carrying thousands of British holidaymakers crashed into a petrol tanker.

The ship broke free of its moorings during a storm in Mallorca , Spain and collided with a freight vessel.

Port authorities in the capital Palma said the ship collided with a petrol tanker because of high winds.

One passenger Gavin McCoy told the BBC that the incident happened while “the local fire service and crew were carrying out an emergency drill”.

He added: “A sudden rain and wind storm ripped us away from our dockside moorings, breaking tethering lines, water hoses, and causing the walkway to fall into the sea.”

He said he was sitting by the windown in the coffee shop when he saw “the blue dockside reception marquee tents blowing through the air”.

Another passenger told Wales Online: “We were docked overnight in Palma and the wind was so strong our anchors broke and we blew out into another ship.

“We were browsing our phones in bed and heard the big horn after the bang. It was panic stations, I was bawling my eyes out.”

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises said: “P&O cruises Britannia was involved in a weather-related incident while alongside in Palma de Mallorca. A small number of individuals sustained minor injuries and are being cared for by the onboard medical centre.”

“To allow our technical teams to make an assessment Britannia will remain alongside in Palma de Mallorca tonight with onboard entertainment and activities scheduled.”

Britannia, which entered service in 2015, is 330 metres long and weights 143,000 tons, according to the company’s website. It has 13 guest decks and an operating capacity of 3,647 guests and 1,350 crew.

Torrential rain has lashed the islands of Mallorca, with the conditions leading the cancellation of over 20 flights.

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Mallorca weather forecast: Latest storms update and travel advice after P&O Britannia cruise ship crash

Spanish forecasters issued a warning to holidaymakers heading to the balearic islands, while valencia and catalonia were expecting severe weather.

Mallorca was hit with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain this weekend, forcing locals and holidaymakers to flee the area and take cover.

The emergency services in the Balearic Islands reported 84 storm-related incidents in Mallorca in the space of an hour on Sunday alone.

Tourists hoping to relax in the typically balmy conditions on the Spanish island instead watched gales batter buildings and topple trees, and hundreds of tourists were left stranded at Palma airport with little information on how to get home.

The violent storm followed the news of a crash aboard a P&O cruise ship near the island, where a small number of people are being treated for minor injuries.

Here’s what we know so far.

What happened to the cruise ship in the storms?

A cruise ship broke free from its moorings at 11am BST on Sunday in the Mallorca storm, crashing into a freight vessel.

Storm Lilian chaos as Leeds stages shut, flights axed and power cut for thousands

Passengers on Britannia , a P&O Cruises ship based in Southampton, told the BBC that the ship broke loose and “floated away like a paper boat”. A walkway also fell into the sea.

P&O said that a small number of people are being cared for on board after sustaining minor injuries. It said the ship will stay in Palma to allow for a technical assessment.

The captain had earlier told passengers there was “no structural compromise”.

People aboard the ship shared videos and images of the collision, showing emergency services and debris floating in the sea. Passengers told the BBC that they couldn’t believe their eyes, and heard “loud noises” and a “grating sound” as the vessel collided with the ship.

They said that at some points conditions were especially bad, shaking and rocking the ship. Some children were fitted with lifejackets.

Holidaymakers praised the staff on board and said the captain and crew kept them updated.

The captain informed passengers that “there’s no structural compromise, but deck five has sustained a small amount of damage” on the PA system.

Storm in Palma Mallorca breaks it’s moorings and pushes P&O Britannia into another ship and onto rocks. Ship not compromised and being pushed back into position by tugs pic.twitter.com/0RbdQIhPRT — Stephen Marsh (@millermanuk) August 27, 2023

A P&O Cruises spokesperson said they were “aware of an incident involving Britannia on Sunday morning” and were “working to assess the situation”.

The cruise started in Southampton and will board again on Friday while technical teams assess the damage.

How have the storms affected travel?

The treacherous conditions, which have seen outbreaks of rain and gusts of up to 120km (75 miles) per hour, have led to the cancellation of more than 20 flights, Spain’s airport operator said.

Spanish forecasters AEMET Met Office also issued a warning to holidaymakers heading to the area in the coming days, as they said: “Severe thunderstorms are affecting the Balearic Islands, leading to heavy rain and strong gusty winds.”

Spanish outlet El Confidencial reported that the coastal areas of Valencia and Catalonia were at particular risk, with waves expected to reach up to a height of six metres. A severe weather warning is in place until at least Tuesday.

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded overnight at Palma airport, with the majority of flights grounded.

A separate technical issue that has hit UK traffic control systems added to the chaos, affecting all flights going to and from the UK.

Britain’s National Air Traffic Services said it was experiencing “technical issues” and has “applied traffic flow restrictions to maintain safety”.

“Engineers are working to find and fix the fault. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause,” it said.

There was no further information on when the glitch will be fixed.

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People injured after P&O cruise ship involved in 'weather-related incident' in Mallorca

It's reported that P&O ship Britannia, carrying thousands of travellers, crashed into a freight vessel on Sunday morning during severe storms.

Monday 28 August 2023 08:22, UK

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Cruise ship sent crashing into cargo vessel as hurricane-force winds hit Majorca

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Several passengers on board a P&O cruise ship sustained minor injuries when severe stormy weather sent it smashing into a cargo vessel in Majorca.

Along with its neighbours Ibiza and Menorca, the island is being battered by hurricane-force winds and torrential rain.

Weather warnings for wind and stormy seas have been extended into Monday for the Balearics and parts of Catalonia in Spain ’s north-east.

Thousands of people sailing on the P&O ship Britannia, which is based in Southampton, got a frighteningly close look at the extreme weather this morning.

Their vessel broke free from its moorings near the island’s shore at around 11am and collided with a smaller ship nearby, causing the walkway to fall into the sea.

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According to BBC News , the captain informed passengers after the incident that ‘there’s no structural compromise, but deck five has sustained a small amount of damage’.

Britannia, which can hold 6,647 passengers and 1,350 crew, will remain in Palma while a technical assessment is completed.

One Welsh passenger told WalesOnline : ‘It was panic stations, I was bawling my eyes out.

‘We went out onto our balcony and could see debris in the ocean and all the damage to the side of the boat and our lifeboat.’

P&O said a small number of people had sustained minor injuries and were being cared for on board.

A spokesman for the company said: ‘On Sunday 27 August, P&O Cruises Britannia was involved in a weather-related incident while alongside in Palma de Mallorca.

‘A small number of individuals sustained minor injuries and are being cared for by the onboard medical centre.

‘To allow our technical teams to make an assessment, Britannia will remain alongside in Palma de Mallorca tonight with onboard entertainment and activities scheduled.’

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Video transcript

[METAL SCREECHING]

- Quiet so that everybody can hear, please.

- So please look out for each other. I know there's no power in the building. We are working on it. I know we have no water. We are working on it. I know the ship is not here, but we are working on it. We are on the same side as you, and I would just ask for your patience whilst we deal with this unexpected small incident.

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P&O Britannia cruise ship carrying thousands of British passengers crashes into another vessel in Mallorca

A Welsh woman on board said: 'We were up browsing on our phones in bed and heard the big horn after the bang. It was panic stations, I was bawling my eyes out'

• 14:30, 27 AUG 2023
• Updated 19:54, 27 AUG 2023

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A cruise ship carrying thousands of British passengers has crashed into another vessel off the coast of Palma in Mallorca.

The cause of the crash beside the Spanish island is currently unknown, but passengers on board the P&O Britannia ship - including a family from Wales who have spoken to WalesOnline - said they believed strong winds and untypically difficult weather conditions for the island moved the vessel into another in Palma on Sunday morning, August 27. Welsh holidaymakers staying in a hotel in Mallorca captured the storm destroying part of their hotel, which you can read about here and watch in the video above.

Another Welsh passenger sent WalesOnline video of the moment the ships collided, which you can see here .

Local publications reported on Sunday morning how a storm “suddenly hit” the island with heavy rain and hail accompanied by strong gusts. The Welsh passengers, who shared pictures of the collision but did not want to be named, said the Britannia ship was anchored less than a mile from the shore following the accident. Other passengers have since reported the ship has since docked again at Palma.

Pictures sent to WalesOnline from the ship show passenger decks damaged, with tables and chairs in disarray. A small number of people onboard have also suffered injuries as a result of the accident, P&O has said. A separate video sent by Welsh holidaymakers also in Mallorca shows a storm wrecking one resort on Sunday, even turning sunbeds over and into the pool and sending loungers flying through the air.

Read more: Hundreds attend large illegal rave on Welsh mountain as police swarm the area

One Welsh family onboard the Britannia said all passengers were told to remain in their cabins, while being told, “this is not a drill”, by the captain on Sunday after they heard a loud bang and saw debris floating in the water. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here .

One Welsh woman, who is on the ship with her partner and two children, said: “We have now been told we’re allowed to leave our cabins but we can’t do anything on the ship and all the crew are in their life jackets and doing all of their emergency things. The side of the boat is battered."

“We were docked overnight in Palma and the wind was so strong our anchors broke and we blew out into another ship," she believed. "We were up browsing on our phones in bed and heard the big horn after the bang. It was panic stations, I was bawling my eyes out. We went out onto our balcony and could see debris in the ocean and all the damage to the side of the boat and our lifeboat. The captain said: ‘Everyone to their muster stations, this is not a drill.’ Lots of people were running around looking panicked.

“Then they came around again and said everyone needs to get back to their cabins. We’re still none the wiser. I can’t see how they’ll be able to sail it again after this.”

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The Britannia set sail from Southampton on August 18 for the Mediterranean cruise including stops at Cadiz and Ibiza and had been due to leave Mallorca on Sunday afternoon. It can carry up to 3,647 passengers and is 330 metres in length. She has a crew of 1,398 and cost £473m.

“They’ve pulled us out to sea now after checking there were no fires on the ship and anchored us,” a passenger explained. “They’ve said we can leave the cabins now and we’re waiting for further updates from the captain. I think we’ll probably get off the ship now and fly back. I won’t be sailing back. As soon as this is over I’m getting off and looking for a hotel.”

Another passenger, Mark Beckwith, told WalesOnline on Sunday evening: "The captain has and is doing an amazingly calm job with the fantastic crew. It's very calm and relaxed onboard now and we are just redocking to collect the passengers whom were off the ship for the duration of the incident."

On the almost biblical weather on the island, holidaymaker Wendy Penson, from Wattsville, told us: “There is a small yacht opposite us and it ripped the sail off that. The Bali beds aren’t light, they’re made of steel, but the storm just took them like they were nothing."

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises said: “On Sunday, August 27, P&O Cruises Britannia was involved in a weather-related incident while alongside in Palma de Mallorca. A small number of individuals sustained minor injuries and are being cared for by the onboard medical centre. To allow our technical teams to make an assessment Britannia will remain alongside in Palma de Mallorca tonight with onboard entertainment and activities scheduled.”

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P&O release statement after Mallorca cruise ship crash confirming injuries onboard

Holidaymakers were left stranded after gales sent the Britannia hurtling into another vessel in the Balearics with reports people on board were being treated for injuries

• 19:23, 27 Aug 2023
• Updated 21:56, 27 Aug 2023

P&O have released statement after its packed cruise ship carrying thousands of British passengers crashed into a freight vessel earlier today.

Passengers on board Britannia described "being pushed ashore by tugs whilst confined to our cabins" after the terrifying incident. Another guest on the 5,000 capacity ship said it was 'panic stations' when the horn blew on board the boat after a storm 'suddenly hit' off the coast of Palma in Mallorca after it snapped its moorings. The travel company has confirmed a "small number" of passengers are being cared for onboard after sustaining "minor injuries".

Passengers were left in tears after the crash as tables and chairs were thrown along the decks. The ship will now stay in Palma to allow for a technical assessment. Heavy rain and hail accompanied by strong 55 MPH gusts and the huge £473m ship is currently said to be anchored less than a mile from the shore following the accident.

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises said: “We are aware of an incident involving Britannia on Sunday morning while the ship was alongside in Palma de Mallorca. We are working to assess the situation. The captain is keeping all guests updated.” Customers will have "access to onboard entertainment and activities" while technical teams make their assessments, the firm added.

Passengers were told “this is not a drill”, by the captain earlier after they heard a loud bang and saw debris floating in the water. Terrifying footage shows poolside furniture being tossed around as frantic staff attempted to calm customers on board the 140,000-tonne ship. The Britannia set sail from Southampton on August 18 for the Mediterranean cruise including stops at Cadiz and Ibiza.

The ship can carry up to 3,647 passengers and is 330 metres in length. She has a crew of 1,398. One woman, who is on the ship with her partner and two children, said: “We have now been told we’re allowed to leave our cabins but we can’t do anything on the ship and all the crew are in their life jackets and doing all of their emergency things. The side of the boat is battered."

She told WalesOnline : “We were docked overnight in Palma and the wind was so strong our anchors broke and we blew out into another ship," she believed. "We were up browsing on our phones in bed and heard the big horn after the bang. It was panic stations, I was bawling my eyes out.

"We went out onto our balcony and could see debris in the ocean and all the damage to the side of the boat and our lifeboat. The captain said: ‘Everyone, this is not a drill.’ Lots of people were running around looking panicked. Then they came around again and said everyone needs to get back to their cabins. We’re still none the wiser. I can’t see how they’ll be able to sail it again after this.”

Passenger Gary McGuinness is on board and told the Mirror of his experience: "Me and my seven-year-old daughter Kasey stepped off the ship to go out for the day. I then saw a wall of water and wind heading towards us down the concrete jetty - it looked like a sort of ferocity that you would be unable to stand up in.

"The large fold out greeting umbrellas on the jetty, shot past into the sea about 80mph. We stepped back into the ship and about 8 seconds later, we broke our moorings. The walk way that we were just stood on, I think fell into the sea. But when you first witnessed it happening it looked, like the ship opposite and the concrete jetty was floating away. But of course we were floating away into a small cargo ship and rocks opposite."

He added: |I didn’t see any injuries myself. The fire brigade on the jetty and the ship itself were running an emergency drill at the time of the incident."

It comes as flights across the islands face cancellations and delays over the challenging weather conditions. The Majorca Daily Bulletin reported that 84 storm-related incidents were reported inside an hour today. A witness to the event told the publication: "What a mess. A 200-tonne ship has carried it to the other side of the harbour like it was straw. Something must surely have been damaged. It went like a missile to the other side."

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Southampton-based P&O cruise ship Britannia crashes in Spain during storm

• Cruise ship
• Monday 28 August 2023 at 2:05pm

A cruise ship which left Southampton earlier this month has crashed after its moorings snapped in stormy weather.

A number of passengers onboard have suffered minor injuries.

The P&O Britannia cruise ship, which was carrying thousands of British passengers, crashed into another vessel on Sunday (August 27) just off the coast of Palma.

Photos and videos posted on social media from those onboard show the vessel struggling in the stormy conditions.

Sue Roberts spoke to ITV News Meridian from her cabin onboard the Britannia about the moment the cruise ship broke free from its moorings

Mallorca had been experiencing 75mph winds and torrential rain, which caused sun loungers to be blown into the air.

Passengers were told to remain inside their cabins while being told 'this is not a drill' by the captain after they heard a loud bang and saw debris floating in the water

The captain later confirmed that there was no "structural compromise" resulting from the incident.

In a statement P&O Cruises said: "We are aware of an incident involving Britannia on Sunday morning while the ship was alongside in Palma de Mallorca.

"We are working to assess the situation. The captain is keeping all guests updated. To allow our technical teams to make an assessment Britannia will remain alongside in Palma de Mallorca tonight with onboard entertainment and activities scheduled.”

P&O added that a 'small number' of people are being cared for onboard after receiving 'minor injuries'

The £473m ship, which began sailing in 2015, is the flagship of the P&O fleet based in Southampton, Hampshire.

The Britannia set sail from Southampton on August 18 for the Mediterranean cruise including stops at Cadiz and Ibiza and had been due to leave Mallorca on Sunday afternoon.

P&O Britannia cruise ship crashes into second vessel off Palma coast as passengers 'left in tears'

The cause of the collision is not currently known but those onboard say the weather conditions were poor before the crash.

• 16:29, 27 AUG 2023
• Updated 17:37, 27 AUG 2023

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A P&O cruise ship carrying hundreds of UK passengers has crashed into another vessel off the coast of Palma in Mallorca. The cause of the collision is not currently known but those onboard say strong winds and bad weather conditions may have played a part in the ships bumping into each other.

Local reports suggest a storm “suddenly hit” the popular holiday hotspot on Sunday, August 27, bringing heavy rain and hail to the area. One passenger told WalesOnline that the Britannia ship is currently anchored less than a mile from shore following the accident.

They said all passengers were told to assemble at emergency points on the ship, known as muster stations, while being told, "this is not a drill", by the captain on Sunday after they heard a loud bang and saw debris floating in the water.

A Welsh woman, who is on the ship with her partner and two children, said: "We have now been told we're allowed to leave our cabins but we can't do anything on the ship and all the crew are in their life jackets and doing all of their emergency things.

"The side of the boat is battered. We were docked overnight in Palma and the wind was so strong our anchors broke and we blew out into another ship," she believed. "We were up browsing on our phones in bed and heard the big horn after the bang.

"It was panic stations, I was bawling my eyes out. We went out onto our balcony and could see debris in the ocean and all the damage to the side of the boat and our lifeboat.

"The captain said: 'Everyone to their muster stations, this is not a drill.' Lots of people were running around looking panicked. Then they came around again and said everyone needs to get back to their cabins. We're still none the wiser. I can't see how they'll be able to sail it again after this."

The Britannia set sail from Southampton on August 18 for the Mediterranean cruise including stops at Cadiz and Ibiza and had been due to leave Mallorca on Sunday afternoon.

"They've pulled us out to sea now after checking there were no fires on the ship and anchored us," a passenger explained.

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"They've said we can leave the cabins now and we're waiting for further updates from the captain. I think we'll probably get off the ship now and fly back. I won't be sailing back. As soon as this is over I'm getting off and looking for a hotel."

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises said: "We are aware of an incident involving Britannia on Sunday morning while the ship was alongside in Palma de Mallorca. We are working to assess the situation. The captain is keeping all guests updated."

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VIDEO: P&O Britannia crashes into oil tanker amid Mallorca storm

Amidst a powerful storm on Sunday morning (August 27th), the cruise ship Britannia , operated by P&O UK from Southampton England , faced a maritime incident while docked in Palma de Mallorca . The adverse weather conditions prompted the ship to break free from her moorings, resulting in a collision with a nearby freight ship.

Passengers onboard recounted the events of the storm, describing how the vessel was pushed towards the shore by tugboats while they were confined to their cabins. Minor damage was reported on the cruise ship, primarily on deck 5 . Despite the chaos, the ship's captain kept passengers informed about the situation.

Visual documentation of the incident, captured by passengers, provided a tangible record of the encounter. The storm disrupted an ongoing emergency drill, causing the ship to detach from the dockside moorings, damaging tethering lines, water hoses, and the walkway.

In this narrative of maritime turmoil, Britannia's interaction with the storm echoed a previous incident involving Cunard 's RMS Queen Mary 2 , which also faced challenges due to adverse weather conditions . 

Britannia's current cruise is 14 days, round-trip Mediterranean from Southampton. The itinerary started on August 18th and ends on September 1st, 2023.

For more Britannia incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page .