A ferry crossing between the Spanish port of Algeciras and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta was disrupted over the weekend after severe weather associated with Storm Emilia battered the vessel, forcing it to return to port and leaving many vehicles on board damaged.

The Ciudad de Mahón, operated by Balearia, departed Algeciras late Saturday night but encountered Force 7 winds and large seas in the Strait of Gibraltar, conditions that exceeded initial forecasts. The ferry was subjected to violent pitching and rolling as it made way toward Ceuta before the captain elected to reverse course and return to Algeciras early Sunday morning for safety reasons.

Passengers described a difficult voyage as the vessel battled the rough conditions. Although no physical injuries were reported, the journey was described by some aboard as extremely stressful. Upon returning to Algeciras, passengers disembarked after a prolonged period at sea.

After the crossing was aborted, port staff and passengers observed significant damage to vehicles stored on the ferry’s car deck. Numerous cars suffered dents and other impacts likely caused by shifting during the turbulent passage. Authorities and the ferry operator are assessing the full scale of the losses.

Storm Emilia also caused widespread disruption to maritime traffic in the region over the weekend, leading to the cancellation of most ferry services between Algeciras and Ceuta on Saturday and Sunday as strong winds and seas made navigation unsafe for high-speed craft and conventional vessels alike.

Maritime officials continue to monitor weather conditions in the Strait of Gibraltar, a key shipping lane prone to rapid changes in sea state, particularly when Atlantic storms impact the region.