'Ferry from Hell': Storm Emilia batters the Baleària, damaging dozens of cars

Strait of Gibraltar, December 15, 2025 — Storm Emilia struck the Baleària ferry Ciudad de Mahon, en route from Algeciras to Ceuta, turning the short sea voyage into a three-hour nightmare for hundreds of passengers. Due to unexpectedly severe seas, the captain was forced to abort the voyage and return to the port of departure.

The incident occurred late Saturday evening. The ship encountered waves up to 4 meters high and force 7 winds. Eyewitnesses and viral footage on social media showed the ferry listing in the rough seas.

In a statement, Baleària confirmed that weather conditions in the Strait of Gibraltar were harsher than forecast. The strong wave impact caused displacement and damage to vehicles on the car deck. Dozens of passenger cars were reported to have been dented. Fortunately, no physical injuries were reported among passengers, although many were quite frightened. The ferry returned safely to Algeciras, and the company promised compensation for the damaged vehicles. After a thorough inspection, the "Ciudad de Mahon" resumed its normal operations.