On May 30, 2025, NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line's vessel Norwegian Epic encountered a mooring failure while docked in Catania (Sicily Italy).
The incident occurred shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time, as the ship's mooring lines/ropes reportedly snapped under pressure, causing the vessel to drift away from the pier.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage indicate that concrete mooring fixtures were dislodged from the berth, with some impacting the hull.
During the event, a female passenger fell into the water from the gangway, and her husband entered the water to assist her. Both individuals were promptly rescued by emergency responders and transported to a local hospital, where they received treatment for minor injuries.
The Italian Meteorological Service had issued a moderate wind warning earlier in the day, with gusts reportedly reaching up to 57 mph (92 km/h). These conditions are believed to have contributed to the mooring failure.
Following the incident, Norwegian Epic moved away from the dock into the harbor. Passengers who had disembarked were advised to return to the city and await further instructions. Reboarding was delayed until weather conditions improved, with passengers beginning to re-embark around 7:15 p.m., approximately six hours after the initial event.
NCL stated that during the interruption, crew members were actively attending to guests until re-embarkation was possible, emphasizing that the safety of guests and crew remains a top priority.
Norwegian Epic is currently on a 10-night Mediterranean voyage (roundtrip from Civitavecchia-Rome) that commenced on May 24th and visits ports in Greece, Malta, and Italy.
For more Norwegian Epic incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.