Two die as giant waves hit Malta-registered ship

Two passengers were killed and another six injured when Maltese-registered cruise liner Louis Majesty was hit by huge waves off France yesterday afternoon.

Transport Malta said no Maltese nationals were reported to be among the crew or passengers of the Cypriot-owned vessel, operated by Louis Cruise Lines.

The two victims, both men, have been identified as a German and an Italian. One of the injured was in serious condition, Transport Malta said last night.

The Louis Majesty was near the French Mediterranean port of Marseilles en route from Barcelona to Genoa, when it encountered abnormally high waves, which smashed a number of windows in the cafeteria on deck 5.

There were more than 1,300 passengers and almost 600 crew on board. The ship was expected to reach Barcelona yesterday evening.

Transport Malta said they were investigating the incident and a ship class surveyor and an inspector of the Merchant Shipping Directorate based in Spain arrived in Barcelona yesterday evening. Two technical officials from the directorate will be on the ship today to carry out investigations.

The 18-year-old Louis Majesty sailed for years as Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Majesty. It left the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet to join Louis Cruise Lines last October.