Horror footage has been captured showing a Caribbean cruise ship catamaran capsizing, leaving numerous passengers floating in the ocean. The incident involved a small 12-meter boat transporting passengers between the Mein Schiff 1 cruise liner and the Dominican Republic. The ship overturned due to a leak while en route to shore, prompting all 55 passengers, wearing red high-visibility life jackets, to jump into the water.
Video footage taken by local news service CDN37 on November 9 displays the passengers floating on the ocean’s surface as the boat sank beneath the water. Prompt rescue efforts ensued, with multiple boats arriving to assist the stranded passengers. Rescuers aboard smaller boats rescued the passengers, pulling them to safety after tossing life buoys into the water.
Following the rescue, passengers expressed dissatisfaction with the cruise staff, alleging a lack of assistance from their own ship during the crisis. The port authority announced 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 investigations suggest a potential technical flaw in the catamaran’s hull.
TUI Cruises, the operators of the cruise that originated from La Romana, confirmed they are cooperating with authorities and the excursion provider to investigate the incident. A spokesperson clarified that the sunken catamaran was operated by an external provider during the excursion.