AIDAblu accidents and incidents

02 October 2023Boat Rescue

On October 2, 2023, while en route from Greece to Malta, the ship responded to an Italian Coastguard request for emergency assistance for a small overcrowded sailing yacht off Sicily's coast.

The small boat, carrying ~40 refugees, approached the cruise vessel and was secured alongside it. The refugees were provided with lifejackets and provisions (packaged food and bottled water) but due to safety considerations were prohibited from boarding the ship. AIDAblu was released from duty and continued the voyage after a Coast Guard vessel arrived at the scene. The refugees were subsequently transferred to another vessel.

The incident occurred during the 14-day "Adria Mittelmeerinseln" cruise (itinerary September 24 - October 8, roundtrip from Kerkyra/Corfu Island Greece) with call ports Trieste, Zadar, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Bari, Kerkyra/Corfu (Oct 1), Valletta Malta (Oct 3), Catania, Crotone, Katakolon-Olympia, and Kefalonia Island Greece.

06 June 2021Coast Guard Medevacs

On June 6, 2021, a 27-year-old male crew was disembarked at Port Kerkyra (Corfu Island, Greece). The medical evacuation was requested by the ship's Captain (Peter Schade) who informed Corfu Port Authority about returning back to homeport in order to disembark the man who needed hospital treatment. From Port Kerkyra, the patient was ambulanced to Corfu's General Clinic "Alexandros Mastoras".

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in 2021 AIDAblu started passenger cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean on May 23, with a 7-day itinerary program (through October 17, 2021) based on roundtrips from homeport Kerkyra. The itineraries visited only Greek ports - Piraeus-Athens, Katakolon-Olympia, Heraklion (Crete Island) and Rhodes Island.

According to AIDA Cruises, all AIDAblu crew were COVID-vaccinated on May 28, 2021, at Port Piraeus.

18 May 2020Crew / Passenger Deaths

(crew suicide) On May 18, 2020, the ship's Master (Captain Tönnies Kohrs) announced via the PA (public address) system that a male crew was found dead in his cabin. The incident occurred while the cruise liner was berthed in Port Hamburg's Kaiser Wilhelm Hafen.

The Filipino man (Kennex Mingas Bundaon) was from Guihulngan City (The Philippines' Negros Oriental Province) and employed as Galley (kitchen) Assistant. His death was not related to Coronavirus.

11 December 2017Coast Guard Medevacs

On December 11, 2017, a 47-year-old male passenger was medevaced by a Portuguese Air Force (FAP) vessel. The AIDA cruise ship was located approx 260 km / 160 ml from Montijo, Portugal. The medical evacuation was conducted in adverse weather conditions, with strong winds (~75 kph / 45 mph) and high waves (up to 8 m / 25 ft).

At ~6 am, the man was airlifted by an EH-101 Merlin helicopter (dispatched from Montijo Air Base / military air base BA6), assisted by a C-295M aircraft (dispatched from 502 Squadron).

11 December 2013Ship Collision / Allision

In the period December 9-11, 2013, the vessel remained docked in call port Funchal (Madeira Island).

Due to a storm warning, the ship arrived in Funchal earlier than scheduled. During the storm, the vessel was pressed against the pier, resulting in severe hull damage to portside. At the same time, its hawsers (mooring cables) tore several times and had to be rearranged.

Note: Actually, this type of marine accident is called “allision” (striking a fixed object) as opposed to “collision” (striking another vessel).