The cruise ship Carnival Magic, currently hosting the ShipRocked cruise encountered adverse weather conditions upon its arrival at Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
On February 6, strong winds and swells caused the pier fender to collapse under pressure when the ship made contact. The collision caused significant damage to the pier and damage to the ship’s hull. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew
The Carnival Magic arrived in port earlier than scheduled due to a change in itinerary caused by adverse weather conditions. Captain La Farina, the ship's master, informed guests about the situation. Carnival Magic will remain in Ocho Rios until 5:00 PM Wednesday
The captain issued a notification to guests updating them on the incident and explaining the necessity to sail out to sea for safety reasons. The notification emphasized the safety of the ship and operational hotel services while temporarily closing other onboard services. Additionally, efforts were underway to coordinate with local partners and the Fleet Operations Center to reunite stranded passengers with the ship as soon as possible.
"The ship is safe, and all hotel services are operational. We need the support of some of our team members as we work through standard procedures for this situation. Therefore, in the meantime, services are temporarily closed. We are now in contact with our local partners and our Fleet Operations Center and are working through plans to get our guests who are ashore back on board as soon as possible.
"We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. If you have contact with any one ashore, please ask them to check their e-mail, ShipRocked App and ShipRocked Guest Facebook Group for updates. We apologize for this unexpected change and thank you for your patience and understanding."
The Carnival Magic has retreated to the safety of the open sea following the collision. Assessments of the extent of damage to both the ship and the pier are ongoing. Plans are being developed to facilitate the return of stranded passengers to the ship, prioritizing their safety and well-being. Updates will continue to be provided as more information becomes available.
