Crew members working aboard an MSC Cruises ship are being praised for rescuing nearly 20 migrants in distress off the coast of Spain.
On October 26, 2025, MSC Splendida responded to a distress call near Spain’s Balearic Islands. Upon arrival, the ship discovered a group of refugees in an overcrowded boat, some of whom had already fallen into the ocean and were struggling to stay afloat in the rough waters.
A group of Samoan crew workers rushed into action. They lowered a ladder into the water and helped rescue all the refugees, who were comprised primarily of men, along with one woman and two young children.
The group was later identified as originating from the Maghreb region of North Africa.
The dramatic rescue took around 31 minutes to complete — a remarkable feat given the challenging sea conditions.
The recruitment agency for the crew members, Samoa Shipping Services (SSS), publicly honored the ship's employees who rescued the migrants.
The heroic actions of 14 Samoan crew members — Willie Roy, Sanele Tuilagi, Apineru Urima, Eikomene Tagaloa, Eferona Matafeo, John Mark Tauiliili, Pale Tafaeono, Toe Junior Togatuki, Faamotu Puleitu, Faafili Tauailoto, Patelesio Ioane Tafunai, Avau Pulepule, Sosiua Junior Folasa, and Matureo Lualua Tautu — were formally acknowledged by name in recognition of their life-saving efforts.
Moreover, the crew members were invited to a special dinner in the Captain's Lounge, hosted by Captain Giuseppe Maresca and Safety Officer Antonio Bovento.
"Samoa Shipping Services (SSS), acting as the crew agent for MSC, extends its formal recognition to the commendable efforts of these individuals," the SSS wrote on social media.
"SSS is immensely proud to support and recognize our Samoan seafarers recruited for MSC, who consistently demonstrate exceptional skill and dedication at sea. This rescue operation truly underscores the vital role our local seafarers play in upholding international maritime safety."
Footage of the rescue was shared on social media
A TikTok posted by @msc.friends showed the refugees approaching the cruise ship in a tiny boat, then struggling to grab onto the ladder.
Some even fell back into the ocean after being slammed by large waves. Amidst the chaos, bright orange lifejackets, presumably thrown by the crew members aboard the MSC ship, were seen floating in the sea.
No impacts to the ship's itinerary
MSC Splendida was on the final night of its 4-night Mediterranean cruise when it received the distress call. As such, the scheduled visits to Marseille, France, and Genoa, Italy, had already happened.
Disembarkation in Barcelona, Spain, went ahead as planned the following morning on Oct. 27, and the refugees, all of whom survived, were handed over to the appropriate authorities and placed under the care of social services.
MSC Splendida facts
MSC Splendida is a Fantasia Class cruise ship owned by MSC Cruises. The vessel launched in July 2008 and currently operates in the Mediterranean.
MSC Splendida measures 137,936 gross registered tons and has a passenger capacity of 4,363, according to MSC's website. Over 1,300 crew members work aboard the ship.
In November 2026, MSC Splendida will embark on a Grand Voyage from Europe to South America. Afterwards, the vessel will offer a short stint of cruises to South America before returning to Europe in April 2027.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
