MSC Cruises Gangway Kills Passenger

Posted on: July 27th, 2010 by Dave Bess

An investigation is being launched into an incident where a MSC Cruises passenger was killed and a man injured when the ship’s gangway collapsed. Reports say that 60-year-old Fausto del Charro and 62-year-old Maria Mercedes Bonastre were boarding the MSC Splendida when the metal walkway that attaches to the ship collapsed and plunged into over 30 feet of water.

Bonastre hit her head on the quay and was instantly killed. However, crew that had jumped into the water were able to rescue del Charro. Del Charro was taken to the hospital with several bruises.

Many of the ship’s passengers saw the incident. One of these was de Charro’s wife, who says that her husband disappeared in front of her, rushing into a vacuum. The pair was boarding the ship for a week-long dream vacation with friends.

In a statement, MSC Cruises said that the gangway had been seized by Italian authorities, and it appears that a sudden release was the source of the accident. The dynamics of the tragic event are to be clarified with technical assessments and an official investigation, they continued. Director Pier Francesco Vago pointed the blame at Genoa port authorities, saying that it happened after the station’s walkway gave way. However, Port of Genoa director Edoardo Monzani says that the strong wind at the time may have been the cause.

The MSC Splendida can carry 1,332 crew and 3,274 passengers, and there are cinemas, theatres, a health spa and a casino on its 18 decks. Despite the incident, the ship continued its itinerary to Marseilles, Barcelona, Tunis, Malta, Messina and Civitavecchia.

  • Cruises Fan
    How unfortunate, my thoughts go out to the family of the victims involved in this tragic cruise accident. According to reports at http://www.Cruises.co.uk this is the second that an MSC Cruise ships has had this type of accident, last time the wind was so fierce that it blowed the Gangway away. Luckily then the passenger survived.