On August 25, 2025, the mega cruise ship MSC World Europa experienced a technical failure and temporarily lost propulsion off the coast of Italy.
Timeline of the Incident
The breakdown occurred around 05:30 a.m. local time, about eight nautical miles off the Lazio coast, during a transit between Naples and Genoa. At the time, there were 8,585 people onboard, including 6,496 passengers and 2,089 crew members.
Despite the loss of propulsion, emergency generators continued to function, and passenger services were not interrupted. At 07:30 a.m., the Italian Coast Guard was notified and dispatched two patrol vessels and a helicopter to assist.
Restoration of Operations
An inspection revealed an issue with the ship’s electrical wiring. Two tugs were sent to the scene, but MSC engineers onboard managed to restart the engines around 3:30 p.m., partially restoring power.
The ship proceeded under its own power, escorted by the Coast Guard, and arrived safely in Naples around 8:00 p.m.
Current Status
Repair work is now being carried out by MSC specialists in Naples. The company MSC Cruises has not yet announced any changes to the vessel’s itinerary. All passengers and crew are safe.
About MSC World Europa
MSC World Europa is one of the largest cruise ships in the world and runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
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Length: 333.3 meters
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Beam: 47 meters
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Gross tonnage: 215,863 GT
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Flag: Malta
