Fear ran high and information was scarce as a mother and son navigated a tense moment at the Valencia port area. A passenger recounts the scene of a family waiting for a loved one who was returning from vacations aboard the GNV Tenacia. The ferry, en route from Valencia to Palma, found itself stranded after a fire broke out in the engine room. After nearly a full day of distress, two rescue ships arrived to shelter the dozens who had been aboard. The first vessel to dock was the GNV Bridge around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, followed later by the MSC Arica. In total, more than 400 people, including 350 passengers and 61 crew members, endured a frightening ordeal with a hopeful ending, as everyone made it back to shore.
Families, workers, and travelers alike ended up back in Valencia, unsure of what would come next. One passenger described the process of guiding people off in life rafts, noting that initial plans had suggested the crew would remain aboard while the ship was towed to port, but priorities shifted and two ferries ultimately carried the evacuees. The late-night turnout saw a careful disembarkation across three rescue vessels, with many passengers reuniting with loved ones that night. (Attribution: local witnesses and press pool reports)
According to these testimonies, the attempts to extinguish the fire led to water inundation in the vehicle deck, causing the vessel to tilt. The captain ordered an evacuation after the flooding began in the car zone, as recounted by a traveler who had been heading to Mallorca to meet his family. (Attribution: passenger account from Valencia coverage)
In the early hours, the evacuation proceeded with calm. Children were among the first to be rescued, followed by women, including pregnant passengers, and then the rest of the crowd. In the initial moments there was uncertainty because some crew members suggested that some would disembark in Mallorca while others would land in Valencia. Gradually, the vessel crews communicated the procedures over loudspeakers in multiple languages, guiding passengers aboard the three rescue ships to safety. (Attribution: ship crew statements)
The anxiety of families waiting ashore was palpable. Some relied on internet or mobile signals that were intermittently available, while others hoped for news in person. (Attribution: family testimonies collected by inland observers)
Inside the terminal, reports note that the hours passed with a certain quiet, though thirst and dehydration became pressing issues. One passenger recalls that from early morning until the handover, water was provided only on two occasions, underscoring the harsh conditions endured during the wait. (Attribution: passenger reflections)
Inundation of the car area
Carina, who was not aboard the Tenacia at the critical moment but on the Bridge during the rescue, described the scene as water rose in the vehicle zone, delaying operations for hours. She recalls the crew speaking of several meters of water in the cars area as she embraced a relative after the rescue. (Attribution: witness account)
Bus transfers to hotels
Valencia’s port welcomed the end of nearly 24 hours of uncertainty. The company arranged accommodations for travelers who did not reside in Valencia, sending some to two local hotels while a resolution was sought. (Attribution: official port statements and passenger reports)
The incident began when the ship departed at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. An onboard fire erupted at about 2:30 a.m. on Monday, near a technical area of the vessel, forcing the craft to stop roughly 55 miles north of Dragonera island, off Ibiza, at which point passengers were awakened to safety. The sequence continued with a move to a common area and the distribution of life jackets as the port authorities prepared the next steps. (Attribution: voyage timeline and survivor testimonies)
Evacuation plan
In the morning, Salvamento Marítimo’s search and rescue units worked to douse the flames and stabilize the scene while awaiting a plan for disembarkation. The grounded vessel, now free of fire, remained a point of focus for coordinated rescue efforts. A helicopter later joined the operation, with observers on deck noting the ship’s proximity to an island—Ibiza, approximately 20 kilometers away—though the exact location was unclear at the moment. (Attribution: maritime rescue coordination reports)
As the day progressed, an orderly evacuation strategy unfolded. Initial plans suggested towing the Tenacia with all on board; later, additional rescue vessels were deployed, including Salvamares Acrux and Libertas, and SAR ships Mesana and Marta Mata. Aerial support from Helimer 221, 207, and 203 also contributed to the rescue. (Attribution: maritime operations briefings)
Ultimately, the rescue operation began with the evacuation of children, and passengers were transferred to another vessel under the careful watch of rescue teams. The rapid response and effective extinguishing of the fire helped bring the situation under control, though hotspots remained to be managed as the day continued. (Attribution: rescue command summaries)