A sunny day of cruising turned into a scene of chaos when a tour boat carrying passengers suddenly began to sink.
It was supposed to be a catamaran excursion in Samaná Bay, but it quickly became a dramatic rescue operation.
Dozens of tourists who were just expecting a fun day at sea ended up clinging to their life jackets, waiting to be rescued.
The Excursion
The 40-foot catamaran, named Boca de Yuma, had set out on a sightseeing tour off the shores of Samaná Bay, a special sunset trip added when Mein Schiff 1 made an unexpected stop in the area.
The group on board included families with children and older guests enjoying the views.
Around 50 passengers from the cruise ship were on this independent shore excursion, operated by a local tour provider.
Midway through the tour, something went terribly wrong.
Passengers felt the boat lurch as it began taking on water rapidly. According to reports, an internal hull failure or leak caused the catamaran to flood and sink within minutes.
Some reports suggest the ship may have struck an underwater object that breached its hull, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Crew members quickly passed out life vests and instructed everyone to abandon ship as the catamaran foundered.
Many of the tourists, dressed in casual clothing for a simple sightseeing outing, suddenly found themselves plunging into the sea in panic.
A Dramatic Rescue
Despite the chaos, help arrived swiftly. The catamaran’s captain sent out a distress call immediately, and nearby boats, plus the Dominican Republic Navy, sprang into action.
Within minutes, multiple rescue vessels converged on the spot where the tour boat went down.
Navy personnel stayed in constant communication with the sinking boat and coordinated efforts with local excursion operators to save everyone in the water.
Dozens of orange life jackets were soon seen bobbing in the bay as frightened passengers waited to be pulled to safety.
Rescuers tossed life rings and helped people climb aboard their boats one by one.
The Dominican Navy’s swift response, alongside civilian boat operators, ensured every single person was accounted for and brought to shore.
The rescue of the guests was the top priority and was successful,”
TUI Cruises later noted, and thanks to these quick actions, a potential tragedy was averted.
By the time the rescue operation ended, all 50+ passengers and the catamaran’s crew had been pulled from the water.
Many were shaken and cold, but alive. Other than a few scrapes and minor bruises, no serious injuries were reported.
“No one was injured, and all occupants were rescued alive,”
confirmed a local Civil Defense official, who noted that everyone had been wearing life jackets and following safety protocols.
The passengers from Mein Schiff 1 were immediately brought back to their cruise ship after this ordeal, where they could dry off and recover their nerves.
Official Response and Safety Measures
On board Mein Schiff 1, the rescued guests were checked for any injuries and given warm blankets, food, and support.
The cruise line expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the rescue and emphasized that the safety of their guests is always the top priority.
They noted that the catamaran had been properly licensed for up to 80 passengers, indicating it was not overloaded, and that they are working with the excursion operator and local police to figure out what went wrong.
TUI also stated that all passengers were offered support and that they’re reviewing future excursion arrangements in light of this scare.
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In addition, both the cruise line and excursion operators are reevaluating their safety measures.
TUI Cruises is likely to double-check the safety standards of third-party tour providers and may reconsider which excursions are offered at unscheduled stops.
Local authorities in the Dominican Republic have indicated they will implement any necessary changes to prevent a repeat incident, whether that means more rigorous boat inspections, better emergency training, or stricter enforcement of capacity limits.
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