A Balearia ferry, the Ciudad de Mahón, faced extreme weather when crossing the Strait of Gibraltar over the weekend, leading to the abandonment of its journey. The ferry set sail from Algeciras, Spain late Saturday night, aiming for Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast. Shortly after departure, the vessel encountered severe conditions with force 7 winds and waves measuring 3 to 4 meters due to Storm Emilia.
Passengers reported experiencing significant discomfort as the ship pitched violently, causing unsecured items to scatter. Many suffered from seasickness throughout the ordeal, which transformed what was supposed to be a one-hour crossing into several distressing hours at sea. The captain ultimately decided that it would be unsafe to enter Ceuta’s port and chose to turn back to Algeciras instead.
After battling the storm through the early morning hours, the ferry safely returned to its departure port, leaving passengers exhausted by the rough journey. Some vehicles in the cargo hold sustained damage during the turbulent crossing. Balearia stated that the Ciudad de Mahón can accommodate approximately 1,000 passengers and 350 vehicles, and the company later offered compensation and arranged for vehicle repairs. Fortunately, no major structural damage or casualties were reported.
