Horror footage has been captured showing a Caribbean cruise ship catamaran capsizing, leaving numerous passengers floating in the ocean. The incident occurred as the 12-meter boat was ferrying passengers from the Mein Schiff 1 cruise liner to the Dominican Republic and overturned due to a leak. Footage from the scene depicts the 55 passengers in red life jackets floating in the water after being compelled to abandon ship.
The video, recorded by local news service CDN37 on November 9, also shows the boat sinking beneath the surface, leaving only a small portion visible as it descended. Fortunately, all passengers were rescued by prompt responders who arrived with multiple boats to offer aid. Rescuers on the smaller vessels were seen pulling the drenched passengers onboard using life buoys, ensuring their safety as the sea conditions worsened.
Following the ordeal, the stranded passengers expressed grievances towards the cruise staff, claiming they received inadequate assistance. They reported that their own ship seemed unaware of the incident. The port authority has stated that the Dominican Republic Navy is collaborating with local authorities to determine accountability and prevent similar incidents. While the exact cause of the leak remains unknown, initial assessments suggest a potential technical issue with the catamaran’s hull.
TUI Cruises, the operator of the ill-fated excursion which embarked from La Romana, confirmed that discussions are underway with the trip provider and law enforcement to investigate the incident’s root cause. A spokesperson clarified that the passengers were on an externally operated catamaran that sank during the excursion.