On Sunday morning, May 3rd, in Marseille (France), a cruise terminal was cleared after unattended baggage was discovered within the facility serving the Costa Smeralda. Established security procedures, comparable to those applied in airports and major railway stations, were initiated without delay, and detection dogs were deployed to assess the situation.
The dogs reportedly indicated concern at the luggage, prompting suspicion of a potential explosive device. As a result, authorities ordered the evacuation of the terminal and suspended all embarkation and disembarkation operations, preventing movement between ship and shore. Additional units from the French gendarmerie and fire services attended the scene to address any possible escalation. Passengers on board were kept informed through multilingual announcements, while it was understood that no direct risk existed aboard the vessel.
Specialist teams from the relevant authorities examined the items and, within a relatively short time, determined that the threat was unfounded. Two unattended backpacks were removed from the terminal, and the initial suspicion of explosives was not substantiated. Operations subsequently resumed, with security personnel withdrawing and shore access reinstated. Some delays affected scheduled excursions and partial passenger exchanges, but routine activities gradually returned to normal.
The incident underscored that unattended baggage in cruise terminals, as in other public transport environments, can trigger significant security responses. Such protocols are designed to eliminate potential risks and ensure the safety of all present.
The vessel was scheduled to depart Marseille in the evening for Barcelona as part of a week-long western Mediterranean itinerary including La Goulette, Palermo, Civitavecchia and Savona, with departure timing subject to any residual delays from the day’s events.