Spirit-Of-Discovery

On March 11, 2026, the MAIB published its Accident Investigation Report into the power loss of the ' Spirit of Discovery on Nov 4, 2023, shortly after 12.30 p.m. in heavy weather, while crossing the Bay of Biscay. Over 100 passengers were injured. Eight of the seriously injured passengers were taken directly to hospital on arrival into port and one of these passengers later died from his injuries. The report stated that the vessel lost propulsion due to violent motion causing propeller exposure, overspeed and automatic shutdown. The initial loss of control was exacerbated by unexpected parking of both propulsion pods at 90 degrees to the vessel’s heading. The decision to cross the Bay of Biscay was not effectively challenged by the crew and operational teams ashor. The lack of implementation of the mass casualty incident plan contributed to the medical team becoming overstretched. There was a delay in identifying that a passenger had suffered a spinal injury led to him receiving suboptimal treatment The 85 year old Trevor Gilks was sitting on a high-backed armchair which toppled backwards as the ship rolled violently. The 'main impact' of the fall was on his neck, investigators found. Mr Gilks was helped by crew back into the chair and then to his cabin. He was later moved in a wheelchair to the ship's medical centre, where X-rays were taken of his neck and emailed to a shore-based radiologist to review. No further X-rays were taken even though the radiologist replied to say that they were unable to determine whether the cervical spine – in the neck region – was damaged as no side-on view was provided. Mr Gilks was put on a bed in the medical centre rather than a spinal board. His condition deteriorated on Nov 6, with a doctor expressing concern that he would become paralysed and needed to be evacuated from the ship. But given the risks of a helicopter transfer in high seas, the captain decided it would be better for him to remain on board until the cruise ship arrived in Portsmouth later that day. He was transferred by ambulance to hospital but died on Nov 8. His cause of death was recorded as complete cervical spine injury. Recommendations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to propose that international carriage requirements include electronic inclinometers, and to the vessel’s classification societies to improve the quality of instruction manuals. The propulsion manufacturer has been recommended to issue a customer advice note to owners of vessels fitted with similar pods. The Cruise Lines International Association has been recommended to increase the number of medical personnel with an Advanced Trauma Life Support qualification carried on passenger vessels and to update its policies on the securing of vessel furniture in heavy weather. Full report: https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/loss-of-propulsion-in-heavy-weather-experienced-by-the-passenger-vessel-spirit-of-discovery-leading-to-over-100-injuries-and-one-fatality

Algerian coastguard units carried out a rescue operation off the coast of Cap Matifou on the evening of, April 18. Three British tourists were medevaced from the 'Spirit of Discovery'. The ship had sailed from Gibraltar and was heading for Malta. It issued a distress signal 16 nautical miles northwest of Cape Matifou after three British passengers were in a dangerous condition. The National Maritime Surveillance and Rescue Operations Center, part of the Coast Guard's Naval Forces Command, immediately launched a two-stage rescue and evacuation operation. An MS-66 helicopter belonging to the 560th Search and Rescue Helicopter Squadron (1st Military Region) and a lifeboat from the Dellys Territorial Coast Guard Group (1st Military Region) were deployed. The patients were taken off and subsequently transferred to the Mustapha Pacha University Hospital (CHU) for medical treatment.

A passenger aboard the 'Spirit of Discovery' died of his injuries after the cruise ship was hit by force 11 winds on Nov 4, 2023, in the Bay of Biscay, an interim MAIB report of the incident has revealed. Eight passengers were taken to hospital when the ship arrived at Portsmouth in Hampshire. Prior to the incident, the ship had to cancel a visit to Las Palmas as the weather worsened and was instead heading towards La Corona when that port was closed because of the conditions. The captaintook the decision to return to the UK when the ship's propulsion safety system was activated in the poor weather causing it to veer suddenly to the left, bringing the vessel to a sudden halt. There were 943 passengers and 503 crew on board. At about 12.30 on Nov 4, 2023, the ship lost propulsion which led to the vessel moving violently while the crew restarted the vessel's engines. The propulsion issues, storm force conditions and vessel motions continued until the following morning when the 'Spirit of Discovery' was able to continue its passage. During this period over 100 passengers were injured. Eight of the seriously injured passengers were taken directly to hospital on arrival at Portsmouth, England, one of whom later died from their injuries. The MAIB's investigation has considered all aspects of the accident to determine the causes and circumstances of the propulsion loss in heavy weather and the on-board response, including analysis of the vessel's intended passage, preparations for operating in heavy weather, the on-board response to passenger injuries and damage, and the medical treatment of injured passengers. The interim report stated that the investigation was nearly complete and a full report will then be issued for consultation with the parties involved.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has revealed the nature of its investigation into the 'Spirit of Discovery' storm cruise that resulted in around 100 passengers suffering injuries. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch was looking into the matter that led to four people of the 1,000 on board being seriously injured and has published further detail under its current investigations section. It stated the accident/incident type as a “loss of propulsion of a UK registered passenger vessel in the Bay of Biscay, resulting in multiple passenger injuries during heavy weather”. The incident happened when the ship's propulsion safety system suddenly activated and turned the ship, resulting in injuries to passengers, who then spent around 18 hours waiting for the storm and gales to pass as the ship was relentlessly battered by giant waves. Saga was offering to refund the cost of the voyage in a multi-million pound pay-out. Customer voyages were understood to have costed from around £3,000 to £6,000 depending on the cabin size and its location.