More than 6,000 passengers were left stranded at sea when MSC Cruises’ state-of-the-art liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered vessel, MSC World Europa, experienced a sudden propulsion failure off the coast of Italy.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours while the ship was sailing from Genoa to Naples on a week-long Mediterranean cruise. Onboard were over 6,400 guests and 2,000 crew members, all of whom remained safe as the crew activated backup systems. Essential services such as lighting, air conditioning, and dining continued to operate normally.
The Italian Coast Guard responded swiftly, sending tugboats and patrol vessels to assist. After several hours, engineers managed to restore partial propulsion, allowing the massive cruise ship to reach the port of Naples around eight hours later than scheduled.
Despite the delay, the vessel resumed its planned itinerary the following morning, heading toward Messina without further complications. MSC Cruises is currently investigating the cause of the failure to ensure the safety and reliability of its LNG-powered fleet.
This incident highlights both the challenges and the importance of new-generation cruise technology, as more cruise lines adopt LNG-powered ships for their environmental benefits.