Giant waves hit cruise ship; 2 passengers killed
(CNN) — Two passengers aboard a cruise ship were killed when 26-foot waves crashed into the vessel Wednesday, officials said. As many as fourteen others were injured.
The Greek Louis Cruise Lines ship was off the French port of Marseille when it was hit by “abnormal” waves, some more than 26 feet (9 meters) high, cruise line spokesman Michael Maratheftis told CNN.
As a result, five windows in public areas were smashed and two passengers, a German and an Italian, were killed, he said.
Fourteen others were treated for light injuries, Maratheftis said.
The vessel, the Louis Majesty, was sailing under a Maltese flag and traveling from Barcelona, Spain, to Genoa, Italy, the Greek Public Ministry of the Mercantile Marine told CNN.
The ship had 1,350 passengers and 580 crew on board, the ministry said.
After being struck, the cruise ship turned around and was heading back to port in Barcelona.
Source :
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/03/cruise.ship.wave/index.html