Boudicca accidents and incidents

27 September 2018Crew / Passenger Deaths

On September 27, 2018, at ~11 am, while the liner was docked in call port Salalah (Oman), two female passengers (both British) were killed ashore. While on a guided city tour, they were just stepping off the bus (parked close to Haffa Market) when were hit by a car. The vehicle was driven by an unlicensed driver, who veered into the wrong lane.

A third cruise passenger from the bus (a British man) was seriously injured and hospitalized in stable condition. The accident occurred during 14-day "Authentic Arabia" UK fly-cruise (itinerary Sept 20 - Oct 3) from Aqaba (Jordan) to Abu Dhabi (UAE), visiting Oman (Salalah, Muscat, Khasab) and Qatar (Doha).

06 February 2018Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual / emailed to CruiseMapper from a passenger) On February 6, 2018, while the ship was docked in port Cape Town (South Africa), the star performer Jon Moses was drugged, beaten and raped. He was brought back to the ship covered in blood and incapacitated.

The man was lead through two security checks, but no alarms were raised. Once on board, the crew didn't provide him with medical assistance nor did they file an incident report for the local police, explaining that "the attack was his fault". The cruise ship left Cape Town on Feb 8.

The injured man was put on a 12-hour flight back to the UK (Southampton). He was notified via email that all his future contracts with Fred Olsen Cruise Line are canceled. Upon his return to the UK, it was found that Mr. Moses had a head injury, and was hospitalized.

24 January 2018Other Incidents

On January 25, 2018, From a reader: departure from call port Cape Town South Africa was 1 day earlier as the fresh water supply to the vessel was interrupted due to city's worst drought in over 100 years. The arrival in Cape Town was ahead of schedule as call port Mossel Bay South Africa was canceled due to bad weather.

The ship was on 14-day "Stunning South Africa" cruise (itinerary Jan 11-25) roundtrip from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Durban, Mossel Bay (dropped), with 3 overnights in Cape Town.

Cape Town City's water crisis began in 2015, resulting in severe water shortage in Western Cape but most notably affecting the city.

• Despite all water saving measures, dam levels declined to critically low levels. The city planned its "Day Zero" on April 12, 2018, when most water supply will be shut off.
• When "Day Zero" is declared (dam's water level reaches 13,5%), municipal water supplies will be switched off. The city's residents will rely on a total of 149 points to collect a daily water ration per person (25 liters pp).
• If this happens, Cape Town will become the world's first ever large city running out of the water.

25 January 2015Fire Accident

On January 25, 2015, the vessel suffered an engine room fire, resulting in a power failure (total power outage) and temporary listing. The fire incident occurred at ~4 am, off Casablanca Morocco’s coast (North Africa), en-route from Cadiz to Lanzarote.

The ship was operating on 18-day Canary Islands cruise (itinerary Jan 20 - Feb 7) from homeport Southampton  (England, UK). The fire was quickly extinguished and without injuries. The ship proceeded to the Canaries at reduced speed, with 2 (of all 4) main diesel and all 3 auxiliary engines being fully operational and running. The affected engines were being repaired on the way. However, the remainder of the voyage was canceled.

On January 28, Fred Olsen Cruise Line flew all the 784 passengers home from the Canary Islands (out of Tenerife to Southampton). As compensation, each of them received a full refund plus 50% future Fred Olsen cruise booking discount.

September 2013Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In September 2013, a UK news media reported a Norovirus outbreak affected 84 passengers (out of 760, or 11,1%). The ship was on a 10-day Baltic cruise (itinerary Sept 23 - Oct 3) roundtrip from homeport Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK).

June 2013Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In June 2013, a UK news media reported a Norovirus outbreak affected a total of 96 passengers (or over 10% of all). The ship was on a 14-day Baltic cruise from homeport Liverpool England to call ports in Scandinavia and Russia.

May 2012Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In May 2012, a UK news media reported an epidemic outbreak of Norovirus affected a total of 170 passengers (out of 828, or 20,5% of all). The ship was on 13-day Madeira and Canary Islands cruise roundtrip from homeport Greenock (Scotland, UK).

April 2011Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(law news) On April 4, 2014, after filing a class-action lawsuit against the shipowner Fred Olsen Cruise Line in 2011, a group of 26 affected by Norovirus Boudicca cruise ship passengers (voyage March-April 2011) received GBP 42500 (~USD 64000) settlement.

The trial was held at Birmingham County Court, where court’s decision ended a 3-year law battle. The passengers’ complaint was about the ship’s hygiene and cleaning procedures.

April 2010Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In April 2010, after several UK news media reports, the shipowner Fred Olsen Cruise Line admitted an epidemic outbreak of Norovirus affected a total of 650 passengers (out of 900, or 72% of all).

However, there was a controversy as the shipowner stated that the Norovirus illness outbreak was worsened by rough sea conditions causing seasickness among many guests as well. The company’s official statement said the total number of Norovirus passengers was 305 (or 38% of all). This epidemic outbreak occurred on 23-day Eastern Mediterranean cruise (itinerary April 6-27) roundtrip from homeport Liverpool (England, UK).

December 2009Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In December 2009, on the 12-day Madeira and Canary Islands cruise (itinerary December 6 to 28) another major Norovirus outbreak infected a total of 180 passengers and crew.

During the "New Year’s Cruise" (itinerary Dec 28 - Jan 5) the number of infected by Norovirus passengers and crew was 289. The itinerary was shortened by 1 day (ending on Jan 4, 2010) for extensive cleaning (incl fumigation). The next departure (Jan 5, 2010) was rescheduled for January 6.

October 2009Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In 2009, during 21-day Mediterranean cruise (itinerary October 5-26) roundtrip from homeport Portsmouth (England, UK), a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) affected 57 passengers (out of 850, or 6,7%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours.

21 November 2008Ship Collision / Allision

(pier collision) On November 21, 2008, while operating in the Caribbean and maneuvering for docking in call port Bridgetown Barbados, the vessel sustained minor hull damage. 

The incident was caused by strong winds. It occurred during re-berthing after port authorities decided to move the ship to another berth to allow docking for the P&O ship MS Ventura. The caused hull damage was a 7 ft  / 2 m dent at the bow (near the waterline). Departure to next call port Castries (St Lucia) was delayed by 1 day for repairs.

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

18 October 2008Propulsion / Power Loss

On October 18, 2008, due to rudder damage, the scheduled 3-day mini cruise from Liverpool (England, UK) was canceled.

01 May 1976Other Incidents

On May 1, 1976, the Royal Viking Line ships Sky (Boudicca) and the sister-ship Star (Black Watch) did a simultaneous Panama Canal transition sailing in opposite directions. The Sky was on a westbound route, while the Star was sailing eastbound towards the Caribbean Sea.