Norwegian Epic Encounters Mooring Issues in Catania Amid High Winds | Cruise News

On May 30, 2025, NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line’s vessel, Norwegian Epic, encountered a mooring failure while docked in Catania, Sicily. The incident occurred shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time, as the ship’s mooring lines 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 dock, with some impacting the ship’s 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.

Norwegian Cruise Line 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.

The Norwegian Epic is currently on a 10-night round-trip Mediterranean voyage that commenced in Civitavecchia (Rome) on May 24, 2025. The itinerary includes ports of call in Greece, Malta, and Italy, with the voyage scheduled to conclude on June 3, 2025.

For more Norwegian Epic incidents and accidents see the ship’s CruiseMinus page.

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