MSC Musica Rescues Eight Men From Small Boat Near Ibiza
First mate Roberto de Girolamo led the lifeboat operation, and Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil in Sant Josep were alerted before the handover.
MSC Musica rescued eight men from a small single-outboard boat about 16 miles east of Ibiza on Friday, July 31, 2026, after the craft was spotted as the ship approached the Spanish island for a scheduled call. The crew launched a lifeboat, brought the men aboard the cruise ship and later transferred them to local authorities in Ibiza.
The ship was on a seven-night Western Mediterranean sailing from Civitavecchia, Italy. MSC Musica returned to Civitavecchia on schedule on Monday, August 3.
Rescue operation east of Ibiza
The small boat was sighted shortly before 11:30 a.m., according to Il Dispari, which identified the men as originating from North Africa. No further identity details were released.
Video from the scene showed the boat moving in the water without visible power, with no mast or other apparent means of propulsion. Roberto de Girolamo, MSC Musica’s 27-year-old first mate, led the lifeboat operation.
Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil in Sant Josep were alerted before the handover in Ibiza. Authorities did not release details on the men’s condition, and MSC Cruises did not provide an official statement on the incident.
MSC Musica had departed Civitavecchia on Monday, July 27, for a roundtrip cruise calling in Italy, France and Spain, with Ibiza scheduled as the next-to-last port. The 2006-built, 92,409-gross-ton ship carries 2,550 passengers at double occupancy, with a maximum capacity listed at 3,223 passengers, and has 1,014 crew.
The duty to assist at sea
Cruise ships are subject to the same international duty to assist as other vessels at sea. Under SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 33, a master who receives information that people are in distress must proceed “with all speed” when the ship is able to provide assistance.
The rule applies regardless of the nationality or status of the people in distress. If a master cannot proceed, or considers assistance unreasonable or unnecessary in the circumstances, the reason must be entered in the ship’s log and the appropriate search-and-rescue service informed.
MSC Musica’s rescue follows other recent cruise ship responses in the Mediterranean. In October 2025, Norwegian Epic altered course to rescue 67 migrants near Greece, while MSC Splendida rescued 19 migrants in rough seas off Mallorca that same month.
