On December 12, the 113 meter long passenger ship Primadonna allided with a bridge on the Danube in the lock at Aschach an der Donau, Austria. The Primadonna had entered the lock at too high of speed and was unable to slow down before it struck the bridge. The impact caused the bridge to break off its foundation and crash onto the Primadonna’s upper deck. The lock system sustained damage and require repairs. No reports of injuries. Reports state the Primadonna was to be taken to a shipyard in Linz for repairs.
The 165 meter long ro-ro passenger ferry Paglia Orba allided with the dock at Marseille, France. Strong winds caused the Paglia Orba to break its moorings during the night and the vessel struck the dock. The ferry sustained a dent above the waterline, but no water ingress. No reports of injuries or pollution released. The Paglia Orba was moved to a sheltered berth where it was inspected. Reports state the vessel was to resume its normal voyage to Corsica.
On November 18, the 142 meter long passenger cruise ship Le Boréal became disabled while en route to South Georgia from Ushuaia, Argentina on a 15 day cruise in the South Atlantic Ocean and Antarctica. The Le Boréal had suffered an engine room fire while off the Falkland Islands. The crew was able to extinguish the blaze, but the cruise ship had sustained significant damage resulting with a total loss of all power. Adrift, the Le Boréal was being driven towards Cape Dolphin, East Falkland by a strong northwesterly gale. With no possibility of restoring power and a risk of going aground, the Le Boréal sent out a distress call and ordered everyone on board to abandon ship.
Authorities on the Falklands Islands received the call and with British Forces dispatched helicopters and vessels to the scene. When rescuers arrived on scene, they found multiple life rafts from the Le Boréal with over 200 persons while a small number still on the deck of the cruise ship. Rescue helicopters lifted 79 off the deck while the HMS Clyde rescued over 200 people from the life rafts.
Authorities later reported that all passengers and crew had been accounted and were safely taken to the Falklands. Two tugs were dispatched and was able to keep the Le Boréal from going aground. Reports state the tug and salvage crews were to assess the condition of the Le Boréal. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
