Norwegian Epic Faces Mooring Failure in Catania: What You Need to Know

On May 30, 2025, the Norwegian Cruise Line’s vessel Norwegian Epic experienced a mooring failure while docked in Catania, Sicily. The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. local time when the ship’s mooring lines snapped under pressure, causing it to drift away from the pier.

Eyewitnesses and video footage revealed that concrete mooring fixtures were dislodged, some even striking the hull. In the turmoil, a female passenger fell into the water from the gangway, prompting her husband to jump in after her. Fortunately, emergency responders quickly rescued both individuals and transported them to a local hospital, where they received treatment for minor injuries.

The mooring failure was likely exacerbated by moderate wind conditions, with gusts reported at up to 57 mph (92 km/h) as issued by the Italian Meteorological Service earlier that day. Following the incident, Norwegian Epic moved away from the dock into the harbor, while disembarked passengers were instructed to return to the city for further updates. Passengers were allowed to reboard around 7:15 p.m., nearly six hours later, after conditions improved.

NCL reassured that crew members attended to guests during the interruption, emphasizing their commitment to the safety of both guests and crew. Norwegian Epic was on a 10-night Mediterranean voyage that commenced on May 24, visiting various ports in Greece, Malta, and Italy.

For detailed information about similar incidents, you can visit Norwegian Epic’s CruiseMinus page.

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