A number of Portuguese newspapers are reporting that the Thomson Spirit, with over a thousand passengers aboard, became grounded while attempting to dock in the port of of Portimão, Portugal earlier this week. Portimão is located in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.
On the day in question, the Thomson Cruises ship sailed down the Arade River to dock at around 8:00 A.M. but spent approximately one hour and-a-half stuck in the silt. The cruise ship managed to dock at 9:20 A.M.
Problems concerning silting in the Arade River are reportedly known to the local port administration. The riverbed has not been dredged for almost a decade.
Crew Center was the first website to report on the incident.
Photo credit: Portimaocruises Blogspot