Passengers on a P&O cruise ship which collided with an oil tanker off the coast of Spain have shared harrowing tales of being whipped into hysterics — with one describing it as a “panic station.”
Britannia has a capacity to carry 3,647 passengers and was “close to capacity” Sunday when the storm hit the coast of Palma de Mallorca. Strong winds broke the moorings of the $601.9 million ship and pushed it into the tanker.
An unidentified Welsh woman, who was on the ship with her partner and two children, told WalesOnline she “felt her eyes popping out” amid all the commotion.
“We anchored overnight in Palma and the wind was so strong that our anchor broke and we crashed into another ship,” he said.
Confused cruise passengers were initially told they could leave their cabins, the woman said, only to find that there were no activities available on the ship – and that all crew members on board were wearing life jackets and prepared for emergencies.
Several passengers aboard the $601.9 million ship suffered injuries from falls or falling debris. Jason Morris via news.com.au
“We were surfing the phone in bed and heard a big horn after a bang. It was a panic station, I cried,” he told the outlet. “We went out to our balcony and could see debris in the ocean and all the damage to the side of our boat and lifeboat. The captain said: ‘Everybody to your muster stations, this is not a drill.’”
Soon passengers were “running around looking panicked,” he added. “Then they came back and said everyone had to go back to their cabins. We are still none the wiser. I can’t see how they’re going to be able to surf it again after this.”
Other families on board reported hearing loud bangs and seeing debris floating in the water before the captain advised them to stay in their cabins and warned, “This is not a drill!”
Passenger Ricky Stubbs said he and his children were getting out at the time of the crash.
“We were on the stairs next to the sunset bar,” he told the Guardian. “A loud crash came from the bar and the door opened with people running in. Within seconds, more stampedes followed chaos as people tried to escape the onslaught of wind and rain.
“People are brought in by other guests and staff. You can clearly see someone getting hurt from falling or flying debris, and people are confused.”
One woman told WalesOnline she “felt her eyes popping out” amid all the commotion.Tilley and Pollyanna Eve via Storyful
Britannia was “close to capacity” when a storm hit the coast of Palma de Mallorca on Sunday and blew the ship into a tanker.via news.com.au
Another passenger, Mark Beckwith, told WalesOnline that the captain did a “very calm job” with the crew on board.
“It’s very calm and relaxed on board now and we’re only re-docking to pick up passengers who were off the ship for the duration of the incident,” he said.
Passengers on a P&O cruise ship that collided with an oil tanker off the Spanish coast were left in hysterics, with some saying it was a “panic station.” Amanda Newport/Twitter
Britannia left Southampton on August 18 to sail to the Mediterranean, with stops in Cadiz and Ibiza, and was due to leave Mallorca on Sunday evening.
“On Sunday, August 27, P&O Cruises Britannia was involved in a weather-related incident while in Palma de Mallorca. A small number of individuals suffered minor injuries and are being treated by the ship’s medical center. To allow our technical team to make an assessment, Britannia will remain alongside in Palma de Mallorca tonight with entertainment and activities on board scheduled,” a P&O Cruises spokesperson said in a statement.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
