The MSC World Europa, one of the largest cruise ships globally with around 8,500 people onboard, lost propulsion off the coast of Italy on August 25. Reports initially suggested the ship had grounded or crashed, prompting a response from the Guardia Costiera. Authorities clarified that the vessel was never in physical danger.
The ship, launched in 2022 and weighing 215,863 gross tons, was on a week-long cruise in the Western Mediterranean when it lost power early Monday morning. Passengers reported the issue around 5:30 AM, and the Coast Guard was notified by 7:30 AM. Two patrol boats and a helicopter were dispatched to assess the situation. The vessel was carrying 6,496 passengers and 2,089 crew members, with some passengers scheduled to disembark in Naples.
While drifting approximately eight miles from Ponza, passengers remained calm as the ship maintained its generator and services. Two tugs were sent from Gioia Tauro and Naples to assist if needed. By early afternoon, MSC reported that the crew had restored partial propulsion, allowing the ship to move at 15 knots under Coast Guard escort. It successfully docked in Naples at 9 PM, with plans for further inspections and repairs before resuming its cruise to Messina the following day.
