Severe weather caused by Storm Emilia disrupted ferry services in the Strait of Gibraltar over the weekend, including an incident involving a Baleària Ro-Ro passenger ferry travelling between Algeciras and Ceuta.

The Ro-Ro vessel Ciudad de Mahón was forced to turn back late on Saturday, 13 December, after encountering rougher sea conditions than expected. The crossing, which normally takes about an hour, lasted around five hours before the ship returned to Algeciras in the early hours of Sunday.

The ferry had left Algeciras around three hours behind schedule after earlier sailings were cancelled due to bad weather. Although conditions at departure were considered acceptable, the vessel soon entered Force 7 winds and high waves once it reached the Strait.

Passengers later reported strong pitching and rolling, with some unsecured furniture sliding across decks. Many people became seasick, and there was limited information about the decision to abandon the crossing.

Video Credits: Lloyd’s Maritime Institute/YouTube

In the early hours of Sunday, a large wave hit the vessel, causing it to heel sharply and briefly lift its propellers out of the water, which led to a temporary engine shutdown. The master then decided to return to port for safety reasons.

During the heavy motion, vehicles on the lower decks broke free from their restraints and slid into one another, causing significant damage.

Dozens of cars reportedly suffered dented bodywork. Videos later shared by passengers showed vehicles piled together at unusual angles. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.

After returning to Algeciras, the ferry waited for about two hours for a free berth before docking. Passengers were given access to food while waiting to disembark. No pollution was reported, and authorities said no formal investigation has been launched.

Video Credits: Barlaman Today/YouTube

Local reports said Ciudad de Mahón, which is larger than the vessel normally used on the route, was selected because it was believed to be better suited to operate in poor weather. The sailing had been approved by both the ship’s master and port authorities.

Baleària later said that sea conditions near the port of Ceuta were worse than forecast from Algeciras, making it impossible for the vessel to maintain a stable approach for docking. The operator said it would compensate passengers for vehicle damage.

Ferry services in the Strait of Gibraltar remained heavily disrupted on Sunday, with several cancellations and delays. Conditions improved later in the day, allowing some sailings to resume.

Following a technical inspection and an improvement in weather, Ciudad de Mahón was cleared to return to service. As of Monday, the ferry had resumed normal operations on the Algeciras–Ceuta route, carrying out multiple daily crossings.