A P&O Cruises ship reported an engine problem on Sunday, December 8, and started drifting. MS Ventura issued a mayday after the loss of propulsion power. Tugs were deployed to ferry her back to safety.
The ship was on a 12-day sailing from Southampton UK when she suffered engine failure. The distress call mayday came Sunday evening. It was all well until P&O Ventura departed from the port call at Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The problems came a few hours later.
The vessel was sailing to the next port of Arrecife when the propulsion issue erupted. Ventura started drifting to the northeast of Tenerife island and was aided by a pair of tugs.
The cruise company launched an investigation to find out the cause of the failure.
According to the ship’s captain, the problem had emanated from "condensation which malfunctioned the electricals and knocked the propulsion systems."
P&O Ventura is currently berthed in Santa Cruz. The proposed visit to Arrecife on Sunday was canceled.
Under the modified itinerary, the cruise ship will sail to Lisbon and reach the port on December 10 at 8:00 a.m. Ventura will sail to homeport in Southampton UK on December 13.
For other Ventura accidents and incidents see at the ship's CruiseMinus page.