Scare in the Bahamas: MSC Seaside Breaks Moorings During Winter Storm

Von Dickelbers - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, a weather-related incident involving the MSC Seaside occurred at the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Contrary to reports on social media that incorrectly dated the event to February 7, the cruise ship was hit by the effects of a massive winter storm two days earlier. While the ship was moored starboard side to the pier of the private island, a sudden squall caused the forward mooring lines to fail under the enormous strain, resulting in them snapping.

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Meteorological conditions deteriorated rapidly that afternoon. A so-called "Bomb Cyclone" brought wind speeds of up to 40 mph (approx. 64 km/h), pushing the bow of the MSC Seaside away from the quay. However, the bridge crew’s reaction was immediate and professional: through the rapid deployment of thrusters and main engines, the ship was stabilized, preventing a collision or grounding. Fortunately, neither guests nor crew members were injured in the incident.

A look at other cruise lines shows that this weather event was not an isolated local occurrence. Ships from Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line also had to adjust their routes or cancel port calls as the storm affected large parts of the region. For the MSC Seaside, the incident resulted in only a brief interruption. Once the situation was brought under control and the ship was re-secured, the voyage was able to continue to Miami as scheduled.

However, the incident brings the island's infrastructure into focus. In 2025, the sister ship MSC Seascape struggled with similar problems at the same pier. MSC Cruises is aware of the challenge and is investing heavily in the expansion of Ocean Cay. Extensions to the pier are scheduled for completion by the end of 2027 to ensure safer docking even in difficult wind conditions and to prevent such occurrences in the future.