Incident Overview

British maritime authorities and press outlets have confirmed the death of a crew member following a tragic incident aboard the P&O cruise vessel Arvia. The fatality occurred just two days into a scheduled 14-day transatlantic voyage from the United Kingdom to the Caribbean.

The Arvia, a massive 185,581-gross-ton vessel, is among the largest cruise ships globally. Alongside its sister ship, the Iona, it stands as the largest cruise ship operating out of the UK. Launched in 2022, the vessel measures 344 meters in length and has the capacity to carry over 6,600 passengers and approximately 1,800 crew members.

Details of the Accident

In a brief official statement, P&O Cruises confirmed the occurrence of an onboard accident, expressing condolences to the victim’s family and colleagues. While the company did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the event, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has officially categorized the incident as an „elevator shaft accident.”

The tragedy took place on October 26, 2024. Although the vessel is registered in Bermuda, the MAIB will conduct a thorough investigation on behalf of the Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority to determine the circumstances leading to the fatality.

Emergency Port Call

The Arvia was originally en route to its first scheduled stop in Tenerife. Following the accident, the ship diverted to Puerto de A Coruña on the northern coast of Spain. Port authorities reported that the vessel arrived at approximately 3:00 p.m. on October 26 and remained docked until midnight to handle the emergency situation.

After the unscheduled stop, the ship resumed its journey toward Tenerife.

Source: Based on reports from the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and P&O Cruises.