The passengers of the cruise ship Mein Schiff 1 lived moments of terror when the catamaran transporting them for an excursion sank in the Bay of Samaná, resulting in approximately 50 people ending up in the water. The immediate mobilization of the authorities prevented the worst.
The transfer of passengers from the cruise ship Mein Schiff 1 via a catamaran turned into a nightmare when it sank in the Bay of Samaná, in the Dominican Republic, on Sunday, November 9, resulting in at least 50 people ending up in the water.
The Navy of the Dominican Republic confirmed that the vessel, named Boca de Yuma (or Boca de Yuma 1), began taking on water due to internal damage to its hull.
The catamaran, approximately 12 meters long, had departed from the Embat pier for a shore excursion when the incident occurred.
According to the authorities, the vessel is reported to have hit an object, causing one of its compartments to flood. The two crew members, including the captain, immediately notified the authorities as the situation worsened.
The Navy reported that it provided communications support, material and technical assistance, and operational support during the rescue. Passengers were instructed to put on life jackets and jump into the sea as the vessel slowly sank, between 15:00 and 15:30 local time.
Rescue vessels from the Navy, Civil Protection, and the tour organizing company quickly arrived at the scene, collecting all passengers from the sea and transporting them safely to the port.
Ramón Liriano, director of the provincial Civil Protection, stated to local media that all passengers were rescued and that safety protocols were followed. He added that specialists are now investigating the cause of the damage to the hull.
TUI Cruises, which operates Mein Schiff 1, confirmed that the rescued passengers later returned to the cruise ship. The company stated that its representatives are cooperating with the tour provider and the police to determine the cause of the incident.
A passenger who spoke to the German network RTL described the experience as terrifying and mentioned that some felt they were not provided with immediate care after the rescue.
The Port Authority of the port of Samaná has opened an official investigation into the causes of the incident and to identify any potential liabilities. The Navy of the Dominican Republic stated that it is cooperating with local authorities to prevent similar events in the future.
When you hear such a story, it always leaves a knot in your stomach, because it reminds you how unexpectedly a simple trip at sea can unfold. We are talking about people who just minutes before were taking pictures and enjoying their vacation, and suddenly found themselves with life jackets in the water, amidst panic and uncertainty. The good thing in all this was that there was no loss of human life or any injuries.
