On Thursday, May 22nd, CCL's ship Carnival Splendor executed a maritime rescue operation approximately 7 nautical miles (~13 km) south of New Caledonia.
The ship responded to a distress signal from a disabled catamaran, which had suffered engine failure and a broken mast amid rough sea conditions. The boat's occupants—two couples, including Australian bloggers Dusty and Helena, and their three dogs—had embarked on a voyage from the Gold Coast toward Fiji on May 14th. The catamaran sustained damage during adverse weather, prompting the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Noumea to issue an alert.
Carnival Splendor, en route on an 8-day roundtrip from Sydney NSW to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, diverted course to assist.
The ship reached the distressed boat approximately five hours after receiving the alert. The four individuals and their pets were brought aboard and provided with medical evaluations, food, and water. All were reported to be in good condition.
The rescued are scheduled to disembark in Noumea when Carnival Splendor docks on Saturday, May 24th, as part of its planned itinerary. This incident underscores the maritime obligation for vessels to assist others in distress and highlights the preparedness of cruise ship crews to conduct emergency operations when necessary.
For more Carnival Splendor incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.