Video: P&O Cruise Ship Breaks Away From Moorings and Drifts Into Tanker
On Sunday, the P&O Cruises ship Britannia broke free of her lines in sudden gale-force winds, and she drifted up against the side of a moored oil tanker while docked at Palma de Mallorca.
AIS data of the event is limited. At about 1100 hours local time, it appears Britannia drifted across the harbor at about 0.5 knots. The direction of motion was towards the 37,000 dwt tanker Castillo de Arteaga, which was moored at a receiving pier on the southeastern jetty. Photos taken by passengers aboard Britannia made contact with the tanker at low speed, resulting in limited damage to the cruise ship. Images apppear to show damage to one liferaft launch station aboard the cruise ship.
Tugs assisted Britannia as she briefly departed the port, away from close-in hazards. She later re-entered and moored at a different cruise terminal on the south side of the harbor.
Some of the cruise ship's passengers were left behind on the pier when the vessel was blown off the dock, and they were returned safely to the ship when the Britannia re-moored at her new berth. Only a small number of minor injuries were reported, and the ship was not compromised beyond superficial damage, according to passengers on board.
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
Britannia Cruise Ship has lost her moorings, crashing into another ship in Port, in Palma, Spain. The boat has sustained damaged, but the Captain and Crew have and are doing a great job of managing the situation, under very difficult circumstances. pic.twitter.com/isbgqJieyX
— Amanda Newport (@amandajnewport) August 27, 2023
MV Britannia @pandocruises breaks its moorings in @portdemallorca Palma in a #storm 27 Aug 2023
— BC (@mildthing99) August 27, 2023
Appears to have been blown right across the harbour then moved out into Bay of Palma for a few hours before returning.
Timelapse via @MarineTraffic https://t.co/U9i4V1JbYJ pic.twitter.com/zlJapy41Wc
We were hit by some heavy weather on P&O Britannia and broke our moorings. Being pulled back in to position by tugs. Looks like we may have hit another ship and rocks on the opposite side pic.twitter.com/57l8anumi7
— Dave Harrison (@TheBaldyGit) August 27, 2023
Spain's Aemet weather agency predicted additional storm throughout Sunday. In an apparent precautionary measure, Castillo de Arteaga departed the inner harbor and headed out to an anchorage just offshore; Britannia remains at her new berth.
“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," operator P&O Cruises told British media in a brief statement.
The breakaway was one of more than 80 storm-related incidents in Mallorca on Sunday, local emergency response services reported.