p&o cruise ship sinking

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At least 3 dead, 13 missing after boat accident off St Kitts, P&O Britannia helping search

A P&O UK liner with British tourists onboard is helping search for passengers of a boat that sank in the Caribbean off the coast of St Kitts .

At least 3 people have died and 13 are missing after the boat capsized.

P&O Cruises ' ship Britannia is assisting the efforts of the coastguard.

Reports say 32 people had been onboard the stricken vessel, with 16 rescued. The 30 ft (9 m) boat had been "dangerously overcrowded" when it started sinking.

The boat was en route from Antigua to St Thomas USVI . It got into trouble ~12 nautical miles off the coast of St Kitts and was spotted at ~3 am by a passing luxury yacht. Terrified travelers were seen clinging to the edge of the boat as the rescue was underway.

According to a spokesman for P&O UK, they were "working with the coastguard to lead the search and rescue operation with another ship."

Antigua officials are leading the search for those still missing. Most of the rescued are from Cameroon.

The nationalities of those who died have not yet been released.

The accident comes just hours after reports that a British dad, a P&O Britannia passenger, died during a snorkeling expedition on St Kitts.

The unnamed man died during the trip after arriving on the island Monday morning, March 27th.

Britannia's current cruise is 14 days from Bridgetown to Southampton England  (Mar 24-Apr 7). 

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

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Three dead and 13 missing after boat sinks in Caribbean as P&O cruise ship helps rescue survivors clinging to hull

• Julia Atherley
• Katie Davis
• Published : 16:32, 28 Mar 2023
• Updated : 0:37, 29 Mar 2023

A P&O cruise ship with Brit tourists on board is helping search for passengers of a boat after it sank in the Caribbean.

At least three people have died and 13 are still missing after the stricken vessel capsized off the coast of St Kitts.

A P&O cruise ship, The Britannia, is assisting the coastguard's efforts.

It is understood 32 people were on board the vessel, with 16 rescued.

A spokesman for P&O Cruises told The Sun: "We are working with the coastguard to lead the search and rescue operation with another ship."

The 30ft boat is said to have been "dangerously overcrowded" when it started sinking, according to local media reports.

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Local reports claim the vessel was en route from Antigua to St Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands.

It got into trouble only 12 nautical miles off the coast of St Kitts, and was spotted at 3am by a passing luxury yacht.

Terrified passengers were seen clinging to the edge of the vessel as the rescue was underway.

Officials in Antigua are leading the search for those still missing in the water.

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Anthony Comrie, head of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, said most of those rescued were from Cameroon.

He said: "My government has been making every effort to be helpful to these brothers and sisters from Africa who were marooned on Antigua, including by granting them residence and the opportunity to work."

The boat was stolen in Antigua, and 16 people on board were rescued, including two Antiguans, Comrie added.

The nationalities of those who died has not yet been released.

"All of the facts surrounding today's calamity are not yet known," Comrie said.

It comes only hours after a passenger on the same cruise ship die d while snorkelling in the Caribbean with his family.

The tourist arrived in St Kitts on Monday on board the cruise ship Britannia on Monday.

He got into difficulty while snorkelling with his wife and daughter as part of a group activity at Peninsular Cove.

The dad was taken to shore where a fellow tourist performed CPR, but could not be saved and died at the scene.

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Authorities are carrying out an autopsy as it is unclear whether he drowned or died of natural causes, reports St Kitts & Nevis Observer .

The Britannia is the flagship of P&O's fleet with 13 bars and 13 restaurants on board, as well as 1,837 cabins.

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Three dead and 13 missing after boat sinks in Caribbean as P&O cruise ship helps rescue survivors clinging to hull

• Julia Atherley
• Katie Davis
• Published : 11:32 ET, Mar 28 2023
• Updated : 19:37 ET, Mar 28 2023

A P&O cruise ship with Brit tourists on board is helping search for passengers of a boat after it sank in the Caribbean.

At least three people have died and 13 are still missing after the stricken vessel capsized off the coast of St Kitts.

A P&O cruise ship, The Britannia, is assisting the coastguard's efforts.

It is understood 32 people were on board the vessel, with 16 rescued.

A spokesman for P&O Cruises told The Sun: "We are working with the coastguard to lead the search and rescue operation with another ship."

The 30ft boat is said to have been "dangerously overcrowded" when it started sinking, according to local media reports.

Local reports claim the vessel was en route from Antigua to St Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands.

It got into trouble only 12 nautical miles off the coast of St Kitts, and was spotted at 3am by a passing luxury yacht.

Terrified passengers were seen clinging to the edge of the vessel as the rescue was underway.

Officials in Antigua are leading the search for those still missing in the water.

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Anthony Comrie, head of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, said most of those rescued were from Cameroon.

He said: "My government has been making every effort to be helpful to these brothers and sisters from Africa who were marooned on Antigua, including by granting them residence and the opportunity to work."

The boat was stolen in Antigua, and 16 people on board were rescued, including two Antiguans, Comrie added.

The nationalities of those who died has not yet been released.

"All of the facts surrounding today's calamity are not yet known," Comrie said.

It comes only hours after a passenger on the same cruise ship die d while snorkelling in the Caribbean with his family.

The tourist arrived in St Kitts on Monday on board the cruise ship Britannia on Monday.

He got into difficulty while snorkelling with his wife and daughter as part of a group activity at Peninsular Cove.

The dad was taken to shore where a fellow tourist performed CPR, but could not be saved and died at the scene.

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Authorities are carrying out an autopsy as it is unclear whether he drowned or died of natural causes, reports St Kitts & Nevis Observer .

The Britannia is the flagship of P&O's fleet with 13 bars and 13 restaurants on board, as well as 1,837 cabins.

P&O Cruises ship collides with oil tanker, injuries reported

A P&O Cruises ship collided with an oil tanker in Spain on Sunday.

The line’s Britannia ship broke from its moorings due to strong wind in Palma de Mallorca, the Balearic Islands Port Authority said on X, formerly Twitter . The collision took place around 11 a.m. local time.

A P&O spokesperson said the vessel was involved in a “weather-related incident,” but did not confirm the collision. A “small number of individuals sustained minor injuries” and received care from the ship’s medical center, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The area saw strong thunderstorms beginning in the late morning on Sunday, with reported wind gusts between 60 and 70 miles per hour, according to AccuWeather.

Britannia visited the port as part of a two-week, round-trip cruise from Southampton, England that departed Aug. 18, according to CruiseMapper . The itinerary also included stops such as Cadiz and Ibiza.

The cruise line’s third-party surveyor confirmed that one of the ship’s lifeboats “sustained structural issues” and could not be repaired onboard, a P&O spokesperson said in a subsequent statement. Maritime regulation required that the ship return to Southampton with fewer people.

“A limited number of guests and crew on board have been advised that they will be leaving the ship and will be returned to Southampton (or their starting point) by flight and transfer,” the spokesperson said. “The guests remaining on board will be able to enjoy the entertainment and activities scheduled for the remainder of their trip."

Guests who were asked to leave will get a pro-rata refund of their fare for the days they missed and a 20% cruise discount to be used in the future.

The collision left a hole in the oil tanker’s hull but did not cause any discharge into the water, the Balearic Islands Port Authority said.

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

The incident comes just weeks after Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 ship broke from its moorings in Italy due to strong winds this month. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Prima was also blown from its mooring ropes due to unexpectedly strong side winds in Belgium earlier this summer.

Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert known as The Cruise Guy, told USA TODAY in July that those types of incidents are “very rare” but have occurred in extreme weather.

Weather conditions at each port are monitored for safety before arrival, he added. “The cruise lines are always assessing these matters and mitigating the risks,” Chiron said in an email at the time. “If it's (deemed) unsafe, they take appropriate action so passengers can focus on their vacations. Unfortunately, they don't control the weather.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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The 9 Worst Cruise Ship Disasters

The Titanic may be the most famous ship disaster, but surprisingly, it’s not even close to being the deadliest wreck that ever occurred on a luxury liner. If you’re trying to dissuade someone from taking a cruise, you should show them this list of maritime misadventures presented in no particular order. Disclaimer: The vast majority of cruises sail without incident and are safe and not filled with poop. (Oh yeah, we’ll get there.) Get your plate ready for a buffet of high-seas horror.

1. RMS Titanic

F.G.O. Stuart (1843-1923) {{PD-old}} /Wikimedia Commons

The many experts in 1912 who considered the Titanic “unsinkable” were to be proven wrong on the boat’s maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Thomas Andrews had designed the ship to withstand head-on collisions and rammings from other ships. However, the North Atlantic Ocean iceberg that took down the vessel scraped through five of its 16 watertight compartments. The boat would have reportedly remained afloat if it had only gone through four. Like other systems at the time, the Titanic's lifeboats were designed to shepherd passengers to nearby rescue ships, not take them to shore. Unfortunately, help was many hours away in the wee hours of April 15 when the boat was going under. The poor crew organization also caused many lifeboats to leave the ship at far less than full capacity. Plus, they only had enough boats for about a third of the onboard. As a result, more than 1,500 people died — either on the ship or in the icy waters, waiting for help. A recent theory suggests a fire that started in the hull before the ship set sail weakened the vessel’s steel walls, making it susceptible to an iceberg that normally wouldn’t have caused as much damage.

2. Eastern Star’s Dongfang zhi Xing

In 2015, Dongfang zhi Xing was traveling on the Yangtze River in China when a thunderstorm struck, and the boat capsized. Ships in the area were warned that bad storms were coming and told to take precautions, but it is unclear if the Dongfang zhi Xing ever received the warnings and continued to sail. The ship was met with winds of up to 72-85 mph, and ultimately, a downburst (a strong downward wind) caused the ship to capsize and sink. Out of the 454 people on board, only 12 survived, making the total number of dead 442.

3. Carnival Cruise Line’s Triumph

DVIDSHUB/Flickr

A generator fire on Carnival Cruise Lines’s Triumph (now called Carnival Sunrise) left the ship powerless, and a late-night comedy punchline was born: “The Poop Cruise.” Without working bathrooms, passengers were forced to drop their payloads into red “hazardous waste” bags and stuff them into garbage cans left in the hall. Passengers described carpets soaked with more than two inches of raw sewage. News reports described the scene as a “shanty town” and a “new circle of hell.” One passenger reportedly called her husband and told him that their 12-year-old daughter had Skittles for breakfast. It took four days for the Triumph to be towed from the Gulf of Mexico to Mobile, Alabama, where it was possible to smell the ship from the dock. Later, 31 passengers claimed long-lasting damage, including PTSD, and sued. After the verdict, 27 of them split $118,000, many earning less than $3,000 (minus legal fees) for their troubles.

4. Costa Concordia

European Commission DG ECHO/Flickr

One of the biggest passenger ships ever wrecked, the Costa Concordia had 17 decks, six restaurants, a three-story theater, and enough room for 4,200 vacationers. On January 13, 2012, Captain Francesco Schettino agreed to a request by the ship’s chief maître d’, Antonello Tievoli, and sailed closer to Isola del Giglio than normal. Why? Tievoli, a native of Giglio, wanted to impress and “salute” local residents. Unfortunately, Captain Schettino turned off the ship’s alarm for the computer navigation system and later admitted he thought he knew the waters well enough to navigate by sight. However, the ship’s first mate testified that the captain had left his glasses in his cabin and requested them. The Costa Concordia struck an underwater rock, capsized, and sank, killing 32 passengers. Schettino’s worst maritime sin? He abandoned the ship with 300 passengers still onboard. A Coast Guard officer in contact with the ship at the time of the sinking claimed he told Schettino to get back onboard. After being convicted of manslaughter and pursuing several appeals, Schettino only started his 16-year prison sentence in May of 2017. The salvage effort (the ship was completely dismantled) was the largest effort of its kind.

5. SS Eastland

Launched in 1903, the SS Eastland was a passenger ship based in Chicago and used for tours. Although the ship had noted listing (tilting) since its inception and some measures had been taken to rectify this, the SS Eastland was still suffering from being top-heavy when boarding for a cruise in 1915. The ship was meant to sail from Chicago to Michigan City, Indiana, carrying workers from Western Electric Company’s Hawthorne Works for a picnic. On July 24, 2,572 passengers boarded, with many congregating on the open upper decks. While still docked, the ship began to list to the port side, and reportedly, at some point, more passengers rushed to the port side, causing the ship to roll onto its side completely. Despite the river’s bottom being just 20 feet below and the shore being about the same distance, a total of 844 passengers and crew members died, including 22 entire families.

6. Royal Pacific

When the Royal Pacific was first launched as a passenger ferry in 1964, it could carry 250 passengers, 91 cars, and 16 trucks. Sold and converted into a cruise ship in the late 1980s, the boat’s maiden voyage was a two-night “cruise to nowhere” from Singapore and sailed by Phuket, Malacca, and Penang before returning home. At around 2 a.m., when most passengers were asleep, the crew heard a loud bang, and the plates on the buffet table crashed to the ground. A Taiwanese trawler, Terfu 51, had accidentally rammed the ship, leaving a six-foot gash in the side. As the trawler pulled away, there was a deafening sound of metal scraping against metal. The PA system wasn’t working properly on the boat, but the safety officer ran downstairs to survey the damage. When he returned, he told everyone to put on their life jackets. Reports vary about how many passengers were impacted — most tallies number 30 dead and 70 injured. Several passengers also complained that a mix of Greek-, English- and Mandarin-speaking crew members led to few people understanding what anyone was saying.

7. SS Morro Castle

The story of the SS Morro Castle is so dreadful it’s surprising no Hollywood producer has turned the tale into a horror movie. Director Fritz Lang collaborated on a script about the tragedy, and named it “Hell Afloat” (which is a pretty apt description), but it was never made. Between 1930 and 1934, the SS Morro Castle regularly shuttled 480-plus passengers between Havana and New York. While onboard, there was no Depression to worry about and no Prohibition, which meant plenty of booze-filled partying. However, the September 1934 return sail from Cuba to the Big Apple seemed cursed. On September 7, Captain Robert Wilmott complained of stomach trouble after eating dinner and retired to his cabin, where he later died of an apparent heart attack. Chief Officer William Warms took command, and a few hours later, around 3 a.m. on September 8, a fire started in one of the storage lockers. The crew’s attempts to fight the fire were haphazard and inadequate, and soon, the blaze couldn’t be contained. Many crew members abandoned the ship, leaving confused passengers to fend for themselves in the dark, smoky hallways. Some jumped from the deck to their death in the water. Rescuers lined up on the Jersey Shore to meet the lifeboats carrying passengers. The next morning, the burning, black hull of the SS Morro Castle ran aground at Asbury Park, New Jersey. Of the 549 people aboard the cruise, 86 guests and 49 crew members died.

8. Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas

A cruise can be an oasis of calm in rough waters, but it’s also a petri dish of disease where viruses ricochet from passenger to passenger. In 2014, the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas cruise from New Jersey to the Caribbean earned the dubious honor of being the ship with more sick passengers than any other boat trip since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started keeping statistics more than 20 years ago. An estimated 700 passengers and crew members were sick at some point. Most cruise ship illnesses result from norovirus, that causes inflammation of the stomach and large intestines and regular trips to the “head.” If you’re wondering how to stay healthy on a cruise with sick passengers, plenty of handwashing (and avoiding ill people) is key. Bugs pass quickly through contact with ship railings, bathroom doors, and buffet food.

9. MTS Oceanos

Built by a French company and first launched in 1952, the MTS Oceanos was purchased by a Greek company in 1976. On August 3, 1991, Oceanos set sail for East London, South Africa, and headed north for Durban, led by Captain Yiannis Avranas. The ship reportedly headed into 40-knot winds and 30-foot swells, and thus, the typical sail-away outdoor deck party with British entertainers Moss and Tracy Hills was moved to an indoor lounge. The sea conditions worsened that night, leading to the ship rolling from side to side, and eventually, an explosion was heard due to a lack of repairs for the waste disposal system. This all led to the ship losing power and water filling its generator room, so the generators were shut down and the ship was led adrift. A distress call was sent and answered by numerous South African helicopters and a Dutch container ship. Shockingly, the captain and many crew members were among the first to be airlifted to shore, leaving the entertainment staff to coordinate the rescue efforts and help passengers to safety. All 571 passengers and crew members were saved by the time the ship sank nose-first into the sea.

Everything we know on Verity ship sinking as search called off with crew still missing

The search for the missing crew of the Verity cargo ship, which sank after a collision in the North Sea on Tuesday, was called off today. A P&O cruise ship had been involved at the scene during the initial rescue

• 12:24, 25 Oct 2023
• Updated 12:29, 25 Oct 2023

The search for four missing crew members of a sunken British cargo ship in the North Sea has been called off after more than 24 hours.

The Verity bulk carrier maritime - carrying seven people - collided with another vessel around 5am on Tuesday while sailing towards Bremen, Germany, having headed off from Immingham on the Humber coast. One person was confirmed dead while a further two were rescued alive, with divers scouring the water for four further missing persons who it was hoped could still be alive trapped inside the vessel which had sunk to the sea bed.

The Verity struck with the Bahamas-flagged cargo vessel Polesie, which had 22 crew on board at the time, though the latter ship was able to stagger back to port - while nearby vessels, including a P&O cruise full of holidaymakers, joined the search. Officials said that the water temperature at the time of the collision was about 12C, at which level people can survive for about 20 hours.

Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said the entire surrounding sea area was searched again overnight without results, before the mission was eventually called off. It added that search efforts on the surface won't be resumed today but the emergency command will consider "what measures can be taken around the site of the accident in the course of the day".

What do we know about the crash?

It is unclear why specifically the Verity and fellow cargo vessel the Polesie crashed - with investigations continuing. The collision occurred in the North Sea at around 5am local time on Tuesday around 14 miles south-west of the island of Helgoland.

The Polesie was able to reach the German port of Cuxhaven under its own steam. The Verity sunk to the seabed. Marine Traffic GPS footage appears to show the Polesie veering left before colliding with the Verity.

It then shows the Polesie continuing forward before turning around and appearing to steer back over the spot where it hit the British ship. Marine Traffic then showed the Polesie near the collision site, with its position updating frequently, but the Verity stopped sending out a signal.

What were the weather and sea conditions like?

It’s thought the weather conditions in the North Sea at the time of the crash were fairly foggy. It has been reported that the Polesie was at or close to sea speed when the situation developed, though the Verity was traveling at reduced speed.

According to data, the wind was a fresh breeze coming off the shore, with a possible swell coming from the south west, so it is unclear if the sea conditions contributed to the collision. However, some reports suggest the conditions worsened as the search went on. The Sun reports, emergency services faced brutal 30mph winds, 10ft waves as well as fog as they hunted for the missing people in temperatures as low as 11C.

What happened during the search?

German authorities said on Wednesday morning that the search had been called off a day after the crash in the North Sea. One person had already been confirmed dead while a further two were rescued alive, with divers searching the water for the four missing who it was initially hoped may be alive and trapped in the vessel on the sea bed.

Seven people were on board the ship at the time, which was heading from Immingham on the Humber coast towards Bremen, Germany. Nearby boats including a PandO cruise helped with the search efforts on Tuesday. Coast guard officials say the surrounding sea water had been searched while a team was dispatched to the sea bed to check for signs of life in the sunken boat, but sadly couldn't find anything.

Officials said that the water temperature at the time of the collision was about 12C, which experience shows that people can survive for about 20 hours. Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said the entire surrounding sea area was searched again through the night without results, before the mission was eventually called off.

It was feared the missing people were trapped in the hull, and rescuers said they are doing "everything humanly possible" to save them. Dr Robby Renner, head of the accident command said previously: "We haven't found the missing people yet. Therefore we have to assume that they can still be in the ship. Our rescue operation is in full swing. We are doing everything humanly possible to save them. We don't stop even when it gets dark."

What do we know about those who died, were rescued or are missing?

The names of the crew member who was recovered dead from the water, as well as those who were rescued alive or are still missing, have not been released.

Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said during the search: "Two people were rescued during the search for the shipwrecked people of the freighter VERITY in the German Bight. Another man could only be rescued dead.

"One rescued person has already been taken to a hospital on land, the other rescued person was brought on board the sea rescue cruiser of the German Sea Rescue Society ((DGzRS)) HERMANN MARWEDE; he is now on the way to a hospital. There were a total of seven people on board the VARITY. Four people are still missing and the search for the missing people is ongoing."

How did the P&O cruise ship get involved?

The P&O cruise ship Iona joined several vessels in the search and one passenger on board claimed that three bodies had been picked up. The liner left Southampton three days ago for Hamburg, Rotterdam and Bruges in Belgium. Also in the rescue mission were the vessels 'Hermann Marwede' and 'Bernhard Gruben'. The Iona has a doctor and medical assistance on board while paramedics are also on board rescue helicopters.

Passenger Gary Corbin wrote on Facebook : "Two freighters have collided close by us. Iona has picked up 3 bodies. There are helicopters and rescue ships by us. We are involved in the search and rescue operation Not moving at moment." Another holidaymaker Clive Baker said on Facebook: "Got woken by captain's announcement at 5am this morning that we were pausing to assist if required. Several missing by the sounds of it."

Ian Hardman said he was on the Iona and witnessed "extremely sad scenes". He said: "The crew have displayed impeccable professionalism throughout the incident. My thoughts and prayers are with those lost at sea and for their families."

Cathering Cox said her 81-year-old mother was onboard the Iona. She wrote on Twitter : "My Mum and daughter are also on board. I received a call from them this morning to tell me about it. Desperately sad. My Mum has been told by the crew that the ship won't make Rotterdam until tomorrow night now."

A P&O Cruises spokesperson told The Mirror: "PandO Cruises Iona is currently involved in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Germany. The incident is ongoing and Iona's cooperation complies with international maritime law as well as being consistent with the company's moral and legal obligations. Iona is scheduled to be at sea today and this event should have no impact upon tomorrow's scheduled call to Rotterdam or the onward itinerary."

MORE ON Hospitals Germany Shipwrecked P&O Cruises Limited Holidays Missing persons

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Cargo ship Verity crash - latest: P&O passenger cruise diverted to help in North Sea search after fatal crash

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Rescue divers are searching for signs of life on a British cargo boat that crashed and sank this morning as four sailors remain missing.

One sailor has died and two have been rescued, reveal German authorities.

The four missing crew members may be alive and sheltering inside the vessel on the sea floor, the spokesperson said during a press conference alongside the German maritime search and rescue service.

The ships, Polesie and Verity, collided in the early morning about 14 miles south-west of the island of Helgoland, Germany ’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said.

Verity was headed from Bremen, Germany, to the English port of Immingham. The other ship, the Bahamas-flagged Polesie, remained afloat with 22 people on board.

A P&O cruise called the Iona which was travelling from Hamburg is helping with the urgent rescue mission, confirmed officals.

According to reports, passengers were panicked when there was an onboard Captain announcement at 6am this morning.

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises said: “P&O Cruises Iona is currently involved in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Germany.

“The incident is ongoing and Iona’s cooperation complies with international maritime law as well as being consistent with the company’s moral and legal obligations.”

Social media users share their condolences

Watch - rescuers search for signs of life, icymi - what has happened so far.

A British cargo ship has sunk off the coast of Germany following a collision, with one sailor announced dead, four remain missing.

The ships, Polesie and Verity, collided in the early morning about 14 nautical miles south-west of the island of Helgoland, Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said.

The British-flagged Verity, apparently sank, while the Polesie remains waterborne with its 22 passengers.

One person was rescued from the water and is being given medical treatment, while rescue parties are searching for several more people who remain unaccounted for.

The search mission involved nine ships, an aircraft, including a German navy helicopter and a P&O cruise line who spent the day scouring the area.

A passenger reveals her horror when the cruise ship intervened

A woman was travelling on the Iona P&O cruise ship headed toward Rotterdam when she was awoken to the captain’s shocking announcement.

The passenger, who does not wish to be identified, described her fear this morning when the news broke.

She said: “When you wake up to muster, muster, muster, you know something tragic is happening outside.

“Shortly after the captain made the announcement we knew it wasn’t the Iona.

“The captain kept us all feeling safe and we all just wanted to help.”

She says as she continues on her trip, she will think of the sailor and prays the others are saved.

According to the cruise goer, the Iona boat left the scene at 2.15pm local time.

The rescue mission so far

A search and rescue operation began after the British-flagged Verity hit a larger cargo ship, Polesie, about 14 miles (22.5km) south-west of the German island of Heligoland at around 5am on Tuesday.

While the larger, Bahamas-flagged Polesie stayed afloat, the Verity, which had departed from Bremen, Germany, and was destined for the port of Immingham on the east coast of England carrying steel coils, became submerged.

Shortly afterwards a signal from the ship was lost, German authorities said, and wreckage was found.

Searches are continuing involving several ships, aircraft, and a P&O cruise ship, with rescuers preparing to dive 98ft (30m) to the wreckage.

Robby Renner, Germany’s head of Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, told a news conference in Cuxhaven it is possible the remaining crew are still alive inside the sunken vessel and that his team is doing “everything humanly possible” to rescue them.

Michael Ippich, of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service, said the water temperature at the time of collision was 12C (54F), which people can survive for about 20 hours.

Mr Ippich told reporters: “The conditions on the spot are extremely difficult.

“Because of the weather and visibility, it’s incredibly difficult to conduct such an operation.”

A spokesman for P&O Cruises told the PA news agency: “P&O Cruises’ Iona is currently involved in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Germany.”

Where did the Verity go missing?

The ships, Polesie and Verity, collided in the early morning about 22 kilometers (14 miles) southwest of the island of Helgoland, Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said.

Watch - Rescuers search sunken British ship for signs of life after fatal North Sea collision

Remaining missing sailors ‘could survive for 20 hours'.

The remaining missing sailors could survive for 20 hours in 12C waters say the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service.

“We are now doing everything humanly possible to rescue more people alive,” the head of the emergency command, Robby Renner, said at a news conference in Cuxhaven.

Several rescue ships and aircraft taking part in the search had not located the missing crew members by mid-afternoon.

Rescuers were considering the possibility that they were still inside the Verity, and planned to send divers down to the wreck to check whether there are any signs of life, Mr Renner said.

A graphic to show where the Verity went missing

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Body recovered and two rescued after British cargo ship sinks - four people are still missing

The British-flagged Verity was headed for the UK port of Immingham but has apparently sunk following the reported collision with another vessel.

Tuesday 24 October 2023 17:51, UK

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A dead body has been recovered and two people have been rescued after two cargo ships collided off the coast of Germany - with a British vessel sinking.

The ships, Polesie and Verity, collided at around 5am about 14 miles southwest of the island of Heligoland, Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said.

Seven people were aboard the 91m (300ft) British-flagged Verity, and a search is ongoing for four people who remain missing.

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The two people rescued from the sea have been transferred to hospital and are reported to be doing well.

The Verity was heading from Bremen to the English port of Immingham at the time of the incident.

The other ship, the Bahamas-flagged Polesie, was en route from Hamburg to Spain - and remained afloat with 22 people onboard.

The Isle of Man Ship Registry has said the incident occurred in an area of the sea known as German Blight, south west of the island of Heligoland.

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Data from MarineTraffic shows that the two ships first came close to each other at around 2.57 UTC (3.57am UK time) and again at 3.45 UTC (4.57am UK time).

The German Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received the alarm just before 5.00 UTC (6.00am UK time) and launched a search and rescue operation immediately.

The ship registry has passed "heartfelt thanks" to the six German rescue boats involved in the ongoing search efforts.

The Iona P&O cruise ship - based out of Southampton - was bound for Rotterdam but paused in the vicinity of Verity's last-known location to help with the rescue effort.

The image below, taken from MarineTraffic, shows the two ships which collided and the Iona in the area.

A P&O Cruises spokesperson confirmed its ship is involved in the search and rescue operation.

The spokesperson added: "The incident is ongoing and Iona's cooperation complies with international maritime law as well as being consistent with the company's moral and legal obligations.

"Iona is scheduled to be at sea today and this event should have no impact upon tomorrow's scheduled call to Rotterdam or the onward itinerary."

The cruise ship has doctors on board and could treat people if needed, the emergency command said - and more medical personnel are heading to the scene in helicopters.

• Royal Caribbean International

Afraid the ship will sink.

By McLov1n , March 13, 2009 in Royal Caribbean International

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I am 11 and I was looking forward to going on the independence of the seas so much after looking at all there is to do on the ship. But then one question broached my head, :eek:WHAT IF THE SHIP SINKS.:eek: I am so scared of the ship sinking that I don't even want to go any more. Does anybody know about any Royal Caribbean ship sinking and what the chances are?

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You'll get a little wet while you wait to get rescued. That's why it is so very very important that you pay close attention during the muster drill !!!

madforcruising

Chances are very slim. It´s probably much more likely to be involved in a car accident in your every days life. There´s really nothing to worry about, go on the cruise and have fun and don´t let yourself be scared.

Women and children first, so you'll be ok!

Royal Caribbean has never had a ship sink. The captain makes sure to keep the ship out of dangerous situations (bad weather etc.). Please look forward to your cruise and all the great activities you will have on board.

my dd worried about everything from the boat sinking to being seasick the entire time, once she stopped worrying she was fine and you will be too. You are going to have so much fun, go to the teen club and relax. Once you are there you will see they have so many safety features in place that you will be fine, your parents wouldn't be taking you if they thought otherwise.

Davey Interweb

And don't blow on the whistle, you don't know where it's been. You'll know what I mean later.

Most adults do not have the courage to express what they are really thinking!

Good for you!

Ships have double hulls so it they hit something floating, it will not cause a major problem. The ships have watertight doors to prevent water moving from area to area. the ships have highly trained, highly skilll professionals handling the vessel.

You have darn near nothing to worry about! You have a better chance of getting run over on the way into the Windjammer Buffet than having a problem with the ship. Go, have a blast, enjoy! Then you can laugh about your concerns when you get home and brag that you just got back from a cruise!!!!

Keep an eye out for rogue waves and iceburgs! In all actuality there has not been a mass market cruise ship sinking since 1984 when a HAL ship that caught on fire sunk. Cruise ships tend to stay in calm waters unlike oceanliners because their design will not allow them to handle high seas. You will be perfectly safe, even if that 1 in million sinking occurs there are plenty of lifeboats to keep you afloat.

Oh and one other suggestion for you McLovin... Don't attempt to buy alcohol with your fake Hawaii ID! LoL

As said before nothing to worrie about. Just go have fun be a kid. Heck most of the time you will not even be able to tell the ship is moving at all

Keep an eye out for rogue waves and iceburgs! In all actuality there has not been a mass market cruise ship sinking since 1984 when a HAL ship that caught on fire sunk. Cruise ships tend to stay in calm waters unlike oceanliners because their design will not allow them to handle high seas. You will be perfectly safe, even if that 1 in million sinking occurs there are plenty of lifeboats to keep you afloat.     Oh and one other suggestion for you McLovin... Don't attempt to buy alcohol with your fake Hawaii ID! LoL

While it´s true that the Captain will try to keep you in good weather and calm seas, this is for the convenience of the passengers.

Cruise ships are designed to handle high seas !!!

I´ve been on a number of Transatlantic sailings on cruise ships not Ocean liners and encountered some severe storms and heavy seas. A cruise ship can handle such easily.

Thank you guys so much for cheering me up. You guys are right I am just gonna have a good time and have fun on the flowrider. Even though there is a 10% I am just going to put that behind me.:D

Not even close to 10% more like a .00000000001% chance of a ship going down =)

You should worry about something really scary like - "What will I wear on formal night?"

ManOfTheHour

Probability of sinking is roughly 14% Its a risk that everyone takes. That's why they have so many life rafts and life jackets. The water really isnt that cold though.

None of the Royal Caribbean ships have ever sunk! Your chances of sinking are VERY small!

Please don't worry. The ship will not sink. You are going to have one of the best experiences of your life and will want to go again and again.

The ship is so large that you should barely realize that you are on water. One of the first things that you will do is a lifeboat drill right after departure. The chances are so slim though don't even think about it.

Focus on all the fun things you can do while you are on the ship. Check out Royal Caribbeans website for ideas and also check the port of call boards here. Maybe you can come up with some great ideas for when you are in port. My kids were about your age on their first cruise- they had a blast. My daughter had her hair braided- a must for most girls and had lots of fun picking out outfits for dinner- especially the formal nights.

You'll have a blast:)

You have a better chance of hitting the lottery, than of the ship sinking....Are you a millionaire yet?

You could be hit by a bus tomorrow---are you worried?

A tree could fall on you---an asteroid could hit the earth...killer bees could attack...

Try to put things in perspective...you're going on vacation, and will have a GREAT time!

Probability of sinking is roughly 14%

Where do you get this number from ??????????

Are you stating this as a fact, or just trying to scare a child who is looking for some support and reassurance

Wow, "broached"??? Interesting word for an eleven year old to use in a first post! :eek:

above sea level cruiser

I am going to assume that this is a legitimate 11 year old girl. I am disgusted with the responses. Joking or not. The Mod's do a good job of cleaning things up but, there is always stupid that follows stupid.

Silvery Seas Cruiser

There are lots and lots of big life boats on both sides of the ship. They are not open as in the Titanic movie. They are enclosed and very secure. Perhaps that will be some comfort.

Enjoy your cruise. I just know you will.

I am going to assume that this is a legitimate 11 year old girl

Well then you are more trusting than me.

I failed to mention cowards.... Women, and Children and Cowards first, so you'll be safe!

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

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