What Crew Members Say About Mega-Smeralda

On August 1, 2024, a tragic drowning incident occurred involving a four-year-old boy who fell into a swimming pool aboard the 'Mega Smeralda' at approximately 2:20 p.m. The crew promptly initiated a call for urgent help as the ferry was positioned 12 nautical miles from the shore near Alistro beach. In response, the CROSS Med dispatched a Dragon 2B helicopter equipped with a medical professional. The young boy and his mother were successfully airlifted and transported to Bastia hospital, where reports indicate that the child's condition has stabilized and his life is no longer at risk.

On the morning of January 18, 2017, the ferry 'Mega Smeralda' experienced an unexpected eight-hour delay offshore Bastia, Corsica, due to severe weather conditions. It wasn't until 6:25 a.m. on January 19 that the vessel was finally able to dock at the port of Bastia. A total of 163 passengers and 74 crew members had to wait aboard the ferry, which had traveled from Toulon. The situation was complicated by wind gusts reaching 35 to 40 knots, making it too hazardous to safely maneuver into the port. Adding to the distress, another Corsica Ferries vessel faced similar challenges the day before, preventing passengers from disembarking until the early hours of January 19. For further details, you can view a French report complete with video coverage here: http://www.lci.fr/faits-divers/bastia-bloque-au-large-depuis-24-heures-le-ferry-est-enfin-arrive-a-quai-2022491.html.