AIDA Cruises' ship AIDAblu played a role in assisting a small yacht carrying an excessive number of refugees off the coast of Sicily on Monday, October 2.
Approximately 40 refugees were aboard the yacht, which approached the cruise ship and was secured alongside AIDAblu. A spokesperson from AIDA has confirmed that the ship's Captain (Tonnies Kohrs) had received a request for emergency assistance from the Italian authorities.
Although the refugees were provided with life jackets and provisions, they were unable to board the cruise ship due to safety considerations. An AIDA spokesperson emphasized that the individuals on the sailing yacht were not in immediate life-threatening danger, and the situation remained manageable throughout the rescue operation.
As time passed, the Italian Coast Guard arrived at the scene, assuming responsibility for aiding the overwhelmed sailing yacht and its occupants. The refugees were subsequently transferred to a safer vessel, ensuring their well-being and enabling them to continue their journey.
AIDAblu's current voyage is the 14-day "Adria Mittelmeerinseln" itinerary (roundtrip from Corfu Island Greece) which started on September 24th and ends on October 8th.
For more AIDAblu incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.