Ferry SNAV Sardegna with 800 passengers lost propulsion power after engine failure off Cartagena, Spain. The vessel was en route from from Tangier to Genoa with stopover in Barcelona, but near the Spanish coats suffered blackout and the main engine blocked. The crew was unable to restart the power and requested assistance from the local authorities. Two tugs were dispatched at the scene of troubled ferry and towed her to Pier St Lucia in Cartagena, where the passengers and cars were disembarked. After docking in the port, the crew estimated that engineering problems were bigger than proposed and canceled the current voyage. The vessel was detained at Spanish port for repairs and further inspection.

The company operator was unable to provide similar vessel to load the evacuated passengers and organized their evacuation and transportation to the destination of arrival. The people refused to leave the vessel without receiving assurances from the SNAV regarding refunds of their tickets and payment of compensation for unforeseen expenses such as tolls on highways. Later the problem was solved the people with cars were escorted by police, while for passengers without cars was hired bus to Barcelona.

Almost all the passengers on board of ferry SNAV Sardegna were Moroccan nationalities, who were returning with their cars and belongings to European towns after spending holidays in homeland.

The ferry SNAV Sardegna (IMO: 8712518) has overall length of 161.00 m, moulded beam of 30.00 m and maximum draft of 6.50 m. The deadweight of the ship is 4,100 DWT and the gross tonnage is 33,336 GRT. The ferry was built in 1989 by SSW Schichau Seebeck Shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.