MSC Cruises News Update
On March 18, MSC Splendida docked at the port of La Goulette, Tunisia as part of its weekly stopover during the season from December 17, 2014 to April 15, 2015. The ship arrived with 3,714 passengers and 1,267 crew members on board.
As with every stop in Tunisia, MSC Cruises offered passengers an excursion to visit the famous Bardo National Museum. During the museum visit, some MSC Cruises passengers were caught in the middle of a terrorist attack, along with passengers from another cruise line.
As soon as the company learned of the attack and the fact that some of its passengers were involved in this tragedy, its strict standard security procedures were activated, including the immediate cancellation of all ongoing excursions and the order for both buses and their passengers ashore to return to the ship immediately. Onboard security was raised to Level 3, its highest level, thus fulfilling the emergency protocol to ensure the complete safety of all passengers and crew members – the company's number one priority at all times.
In constant coordination with local, national, and international authorities, as well as the Tunisian embassy and ground staff, the MSC Splendida team worked tirelessly to organize the safe return of passengers aboard the ship and to assess the situation in the city's hospitals. Keeping passengers informed about the evolving situation required constant synchronization among all parties, both on board and on land, who also had to act as a filter for conflicting information from various sources.
Finally, to allow all passengers to have quick contact with their families and loved ones, and to try to provide a state of well-being, both the ship's telephone lines and internet were made available.
Meanwhile, a few hours after the tragic events, the MSC Cruises Crisis Communications team traveled to the MSC Splendida ship in Tunisia to provide assistance and support to passengers during this painful time.
MSC Cruises CEO Pierfrancesco Vago will arrive in Tunisia in the coming hours to assess the situation firsthand, both to provide assistance to the victims and their families, and to consult with local authorities.
Based on official statements, MSC Cruises, its owner, and the entire management team express their deepest sadness that, as of this announcement, nine of their passengers have lost their lives; 12 are injured; and six (two Spaniards, one Belgian, one British, one French, and one Japanese) remain missing in connection with the tragic incident at the Bardo Museum. However, these figures are still subject to change while official identification is underway.
According to sources, of the registered victims, three were Japanese, two French, two Spanish, and two Colombian. Regarding the injured, three are Japanese, one is from South Africa, one is Belgian, and seven are French; all are currently being treated in various hospitals and are receiving assistance from the MSC Cruises Crisis Team, which was immediately dispatched to Tunisia to provide necessary support on land.
MSC Cruises will continue to publish updates with any confirmed official information it receives.
