The cruise ship Thomson Celebration minutes after departing from La Valletta Grand Harbour on Saturday July, 23 suffered an engine failure leaving it powerless near the port entrance. The ship’s captain was forced to drop the anchor in order to avoid hitting the harbor structures constructed as part of the coastal weather defense system. Ship drifted for around 100 meters by the strong currents blocking La Valletta port entrance for about an hour. Two tug boats intervened in securing the ship in order to stop it moving. Onboard officers managed to resolve the engine problem before finally sailing off to the next destination Messina, Italy. 

The 33,900 tons Thomson Celebration, sailing under the fag of Maltese is on 7 Night Mediterranean voyage, visiting the ports of Dubrovnik - Croatia, La Valletta - Malta, Messina - Sicily, Crotone - Italy, Igoumenitsa - Greece and Kotor - Montenegro.