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The Alternative to Huge Cruises? 3 Masts, 28 Sails and Wind Power.

We checked out the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit on a Mediterranean cruise. In this era of gargantuan ships, its elegant clipper design, wooden decks and relatively small size stands out.

By Ceylan Yeğinsu

From the bridge of the three-masted windjammer, the Sea Cloud Spirit , the captain called out the words we’d all been waiting for.

“Let’s set the sails!” he cried, after turning off the engines, while maneuvering to maintain an optimum angle for his 18 deckhands to climb into the shrouds and unfurl the ship’s 44,132 square feet of sails by hand.

Like acrobats, the crew scurried up the masts to the upper topgallant sails that rose nearly 200 feet above us. The ship’s captain, Vukota Stojanovic, later insisted that none of it was for show. “Whenever there is an opportunity to sail, we sail,” he said.

For the next hour, the crew hauled the ropes until the 28 sails were billowing in the wind, propelling the 452-foot-long ship — the world’s largest passenger sailing vessel on which the sails are raised by hand — toward its first port of call, Portofino, Italy.

At a time when cruise lines are packing their ever-more-gargantuan ships with water parks and basketball courts, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit, with its old-fashioned clipper design and wooden decks, stands out. It is the newest ship from the Hamburg-based Sea Cloud Cruises , and while it is the company’s biggest, Sea Cloud said it wanted to leave space for passengers to connect to the surrounding elements.

“Wherever you are on the ship, it feels like you are sitting on the water,” said Amelia Dominick, 71, a retired real estate agent from Cologne, Germany, who was on her third cruise onboard the Sea Cloud Spirit.

I had arrived for a four-night “taster sailing” from Nice, France, to the Ligurian region of Italy, designed to entice passengers to sign up for a longer cruise. Here’s what I found.

The ship and cabins

The Spirit has many comforts and luxuries, including a fitness center, library, hair salon and a spa with a Finnish sauna that overlooks the sea. The deck layouts are spacious, with nooks carved out for privacy and relaxation.

Sixty-nine spacious cabins have windows that open onto the sea. My room, a junior suite on the third deck, had two large arched windows, mahogany tables, a balcony and a comfortable couch and armchair. The marble bathroom was lavish, with a gold-plated sink and large jetted bathtub.

The elegant interior design is inspired by the original Sea Cloud, built in 1931 for Marjorie Merriweather Post, the American heiress of the General Foods Corporation, with glossy wooden panels and gold trimmings. The Sea Cloud was the largest private sailing yacht in the world before Post handed it over to the U.S. Navy for use as a weather-reporting vessel during World War II. The four-mast, 64-passenger ship has since been restored to its former glory and will sail across the Aegean and Adriatic this summer.

The experience felt authentic — even before the sails were set — with a detailed safety drill. On most cruises, the drill entails a safety video and signing in at an assembly point. But here, passengers put on their life jackets and walked through emergency scenarios that included rationing food supplies and fishing from the lifeboat.

Each day, the sails were set, even during heavy rain and wind speeds over 30 knots. Guests wanting to participate in the rigging are usually invited to do so, but the weather conditions made it too risky for this sailing.

“It was amazing to watch the work go into putting the sails up and down and to experience the wind power pulling the ship so fast without the engines,” said Malte Rahnenfuehrer, a 50-year-old psychologist from Zurich, who was traveling with his partner and two children.

The captain

It is rare for cruise passengers to see the ship’s captain after the initial welcome drinks or gala dinner. But Capt. Vukota Stojanovic was omnipresent throughout the cruise, from setting sails to lifeguarding to mingling with guests.

Originally from Montenegro, Captain Stojanovic piloted container ships for years. When he was asked to consider helming the original Sea Cloud nearly 10 years ago, he hesitated because he had no experience sailing. Even after he learned the ropes — and there are 340 ropes (known as running rigging) on the vessel — he was unsure. “I grew to love the sailings, the boats, the crew the lifestyle, but I still felt I belonged on container ships,” he said. “It would be a big adjustment, especially because I would have to shave every day,” he joked.

Eventually, he accepted the opportunity and worked tirelessly to learn how to sail and operate the ship. Today, he keeps an “open bridge” policy, allowing passengers to visit the control room, even when he is wrestling with the wind.

“The crew and the passengers are all part of the experience, and I like to meet people and receive their feedback,” Captain Stojanovic said.

Environment

Sea Cloud Cruises aspires to take a “gentle” approach, using wind power to drive its ships wherever possible, even if that means changing course for optimal weather conditions. When sailing is not possible, the Spirit has two diesel-electric engines that run on low-sulfur marine diesel fuel. The company is also working with ports that have shore power capabilities to plug into the local electric power.

Onboard, there is an emphasis on reusable bottles and paper straws, and crew members separate solid waste to be compacted and removed when in port.

Excursions and Activities

We made stops in Portofino, San Remo, Italy, and St.-Tropez, France, anchoring offshore and getting to land by tender — a contrast to the big cruise ships with their loud horns and thick plumes of exhaust spewing from their funnels.

For passengers wanting to take a dip (there is no pool), the crew marked an area in the water with floats and an inflatable slide. The water was frigid, but many passengers took the plunge from the swimming deck. Guests could also take “Zodiac Safaris” around the ship to get views of the vessel from the water.

Excursions ranged from food and wine tours to e-biking and beach trips. In Portofino, passengers were free to explore the sights independently, including the Castello Brown Fortress and the lighthouse on Punta del Capo rock. There was ample time to eat meals on shore as the ship did not depart until 11 p.m. Over the summer, the Sea Cloud Spirit will sail to Spain, Portugal, France and the Azores, among other destinations. On Nov. 11, she will depart for St. Maarten in the Caribbean for the winter.

Wherever the vessel goes, said Mirell Reyes, president of Sea Cloud Cruise for North America, the company tries to “stay away from the crowds and ports where big cruise ships spit out 6,000 passengers.”

Summer prices, which include food and beverages, range from $3,995 for a four-night sailing in a superior cabin to $9,420 for a veranda suite. Seven-night sailings cost between $6,995 and $16,495.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Ceylan Yeginsu is a travel reporter for The Times who frequently writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. More about Ceylan Yeğinsu

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Sir ben ainslie's reshuffle led to big wins for british sail team.

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Ben Ainslie, longtime driver and now CEO of Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, before a practice ... [+] session ahead of the Emirates Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas in Dubai, UAE. 8th December 2023.

No one can control the wind, and no one knows that better than Ben Ainslie CBE, also known as Sir Charles Benedict Ainslie, one of the world’s most renowned sailing competitors.

The British four-time Olympic gold medalist has spent the last two seasons at the helm of Great Britain’s Emirates GBR team , first as the crew’s captain, or driver, to use competitive sailing terminology, and most recently as the organization’s CEO.

With a hard-fought win in Halifax, Canada, just three weeks ago and a total of three wins this season, Ainslie's team is gearing up for the thrilling New York Grand Prix this weekend. The event promises both excitement and challenges, just like any other team in the SailGP Circuit.

“New York is perhaps our (SailGP’s) Monaco,” Ainslie said, referring to the popular but difficult Formula 1 auto racing venue, also known as racing’s crown jewel.

“As a location, New York is iconic. But it’s a tricky circuit,” Ainslie added, during our Zoom interview this week. “There’s not a lot of space in New York Harbor, and whether the wind is blowing over Manhattan or Jersey City to wherever, it’s going to be disturbing and make for a pretty challenging race course.”

Midway through SailGP’s current and fourth season, the Emirates GBR made a personnel move that has begun to pay off. Ainslie said he opted to “step off the boat and replace himself at the driver position with fellow veteran Giles Scott.

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The 36-year-old Scott has also won his share of titles, including six sailing World Championships and two Olympic gold medals, at Rio De Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020, both in the Men’s Finn sailing competition.

Mills with Giles Scott, Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team driver after winning the final race on ... [+] Race Day 2 of the ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax, Canada. 2 June 2024.

“Giles is now steering the boat, and he’s a seriously talented sailor and has been involved with us in the America’s Cup. One of the top names in the sport.”

Ainslie mentioned that even with Scott’s track record and expertise in sailing, SailGP is a different animal. SailGP’s format and treacherous courses are their own trial by fire—or, perhaps, trial by water.

“The opportunity to train (for SailGP races) is very limited,” Ainslie said. “You might get one or two days on the water before each event.”

Ainslie added that during Scott's first few events after taking over the driver spot from him, there was “either no wind” on practice days or training days that got canceled because of conditions.

Yet, Scott drove the boat during Emirates GBR’s win in Halifax. Paired with Emirates GBR strategist and fellow Olympic gold medalist sailor Hannah Mills , the British team’s trajectory has only gone up and puts them in a great position for the next SailGP season.

“The way it goes is that there’s little preparation for these sailing events,” said Ainslie, “and keep in mind these are the best sailors in the world.”

SailGP teams have eight-member crews, with six on board during the race. The six on-board roles are driver, strategist, wing trimmer, flight controller and two grinders.

Part grit, part strategy, part hive mind

Looking at the standings of the SailGP’s first three seasons, it’s clear that Team Australia, led by Tom Slingsby, is the team to beat. Slingsby made his name in sailing or racing boats much smaller than SailGP’s 50-foot double hulls, 24m sail F50 foiling catamarans—winning an Olympic gold medal in the Men’s Laser class at the London Summer Games in 2012.

But the British Emirates team are also within the top tier. In the first two seasons of SailGP, the British team took 4th place overall, and finished in third place last season.

Related story: How Hannah Mills is rewriting rules in sailing

Ainslie says that racing in SailGP is very different from racing some of the smaller boats that both he and Slingsby have raced in Olympic circuits.

“It’s very much a team game. And that was a change for me, coming from a single competitor background.” He added that the skillset gained from racing Finn and Laser boats is not necessarily transferable to SailGP. That said, in sailing Ainslie said there is “an innate feel for the sport, the water and the waves, and that doesn't really change, whether you’re doing ten kilometers per hour or a hundred kilometers per hour.”

Meanwhile, communication in SailGP is key. It’s one thing Ainslie said that the Emirates GBR team does well, and helps keep them on their game.

“Communication is absolutely critical. We’re maneuvering on a really tight course with so many other boats, and the people on board have to know exactly what maneuver is coming up and when.”

All members of SailGP teams wear not only protective gear that looks customary and similar to other racing sports. They also wear helmets and communication systems that filter out wind and water noise, while allowing crew members to hear each other succinctly.

“We have our shorthand ways of communication. There’s probably a bit of British slang in our boat,” said Ainslie. “But, there’s definitely no time to have a debate or waffle. It’s got to be really clear.”

Each boat has a crew of five; the helmsmen steer the boat, while the flight controllers manage ride height to ensure the boat doesn’t touch down during maneuvers. Wing trimmers control the boat’s 24m wing sail, and two grinders that keep up hydraulic pressure to power adjustments to the sails for optimum speed.

Sir Ben Ainslie, in action as driver of Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, during a practice ... [+] session in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 6 December 2023.

Ainslie also said that the Emirates GBR team has worked in the past with Great Britain’s Special Forces to optimize and tighten up communications techniques, on and off the water.

As SailGP moves toward its 2024-2025 season, the international racing league is looking to add teams and sponsor partners. SailGP announced this week that a Brazilian team will be added for Season 5, which starts in November.

Hannah Mills, a decorated Olympic gold medalist and an Emirates GBR strategist, explained that her team may have the ultimate sporting partner in Emirates.

“Having Emirates come on board with our team was massive. It gave us a lot of autonomy in how we run the team and gave us a competitive advantage,” Mills said. “Being part of the Emirates family is prestigious.”

The airline group based in the United Arab Emirates has already made a hugely successful foray into soccer , the world’s most popular sport, as title sponsor for mega clubs Real Madrid , AC Milan, and England’s Arsenal FC, among others.

“In the Middle East,” Mills added, “sailing has become a really big sport. And there is also a big push there to get women involved, and make it accessible to anyone who wants to go sailing.”

In addition to Emirates GBR’s win in Nova Scotia in early June, the team also scored back-to-back wins last September in Saint-Tropez, France, and Taranto, Italy, adding points to the current season standings.

Since mid-season, the British team has perhaps found its stride, with Scott driving the boat and Ainslie running the organization at large. Ainslie spoke humbly about their quick progress since the May SailGP race in the Bahamas, in which Emirates GBR placed 8th.

“It’s a team sport, and the course is tough for everyone.” But by adding Scott to the mix, Ainslie said, “We’ve had quite some turn-around.”

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A cruise ship rescues 68 migrants and finds 5 bodies in a boat adrift in the Atlantic Ocean

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MADRID (AP) — A cruise ship rescued 68 migrants and found five bodies in a traditional fishing boat that was drifting off the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, Spain’s maritime rescue agency said Thursday.

It said an oil tanker traveling from northwestern Spain to Brazil spotted the drifting boat on Wednesday afternoon about 815 kilometers (506 miles) south of Tenerife, one of the seven islands in the Canaries archipelago.

Spanish authorities diverted the Insignia, a cruise ship, to rescue the migrants. The Insignia crew also recovered three of the five bodies on the fishing boat. The remains of two people were left at sea because of bad weather hampering their recovery.

The canoe-shaped boats, known as pirogues, are used by fishermen in Mauritania and Senegal.

It is unusual for cruise ships to make rescues of migrants on the Atlantic route, but the pirogue “was a long way out and they could be in danger,” said a maritime rescue’s spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity under departmental rules.

One of the passengers on the cruise ship, Steve Dilbeck from Huntington Beach, California, said they were not told about the dead.

“They did say the boat had been at sea for 20 days,” Dilbeck told The Associated Press in a text message. “We were diverted in the evening and took us two hours to reach them. They were brought on board and placed in the Insignia Lounge, which is where they have all their shows.”

“The area has been closed off to passengers. Told they had them remove their clothes and put on jumpsuits. Then they asked passengers if they had shoes and clothes they could donate, particularly for men. Their announcement said 62 were men, with the rest women and children,” he added.

The Marshall Islands-flagged Insignia had left Mindelo, a port city in Cape Verde, on Tuesday. Its operator, Miami-based Oceania Cruises, did not immediately comment on the rescue.

The Spanish rescue agency emailed a statement saying the Insignia is expected to arrive on Friday at the port of Santa Cruz, Tenerife.

The Canary Islands is a destination for boats packed with migrants departing from northwestern Africa on a perilous Atlantic route in search of a better life in Europe.

Spain’s Interior Ministry says a record 55,618 migrants arrived by boat — most of them in the Canary Islands — last year, almost double the number of the previous year. More than 23,000 have landed so far this year, the ministry said.

The Spanish nonprofit organization Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders) says more than 5,000 migrants have died so far this year through May while trying to reach Spanish coasts, most of them on the Atlantic route. The figure for all 2023 was 6,600, more than double the number for 2022.

Associated Press writer Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration

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Tom cruise bonds with travis kelce at taylor swift’s eras tour after skipping daughter suri’s graduation.

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Is a new bromance brewing?

Tom Cruise bonded with Travis Kelce at Taylor Swift’s London Eras Tour after the actor skipped his daughter Suri Cruise’s high school graduation.

According to videos shared online , the Kansas City Chiefs star, 34, put his hands on the “Mission Impossible” actor’s shoulders as they laughed and smiled at each other during the pop star’s performance of “Blank Space” Saturday night inside Wembley Stadium.

In another clip , Tom, 61, danced along to Swift’s “Shake It Off” while standing in a VIP section with several other stars , including “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher and Hugh Grant.

Prior to the show starting, the “Top Gun: Maverick” actor, who rocked dark wash jeans, a white T-shirt and a black jacket, was seen trading friendship bracelets with fans.

Though Tom seemed to be having the time of his life in the capital of England, he missed a major moment in his estranged daughter Suri’s life.

On Friday, the 18-year-old, whom Tom shares with ex-wife Katie Holmes,  graduated from LaGuardia High School in New York City.

Suri looked thrilled as she posed with the “Dawson’s Creek” alum, 45, for photos before heading into the United Palace Theatre in Manhattan.

The mother-daughter duo smiled and hugged as they celebrated Suri’s big milestone.

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The teen, who has been estranged from Tom for years , even dropped her dad’s famous last name, instead using “Suri Noelle” in the graduation pamphlet.

Suri will be attending Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in the fall.

A source exclusively told Page Six in April that the action movie star  has not seen Suri since 2012 . (They were last seen together at Disney World that summer.)

“Katie has safeguarded Suri and she’s a devoted mom,” an insider told us. “This is a girl who is a private citizen. She hasn’t lived her life in public.”

Holmes, who filed for divorce from Tom when Suri was only 6 years old in June 2012, revealed in November 2013 court docs that she left the “Jerry Maguire” star “to protect Suri  from Scientology ,” a religion that is often referred to as a cult.

“Suri is not a Scientologist and never will be … she deserves love and sympathy,” former Scientology spokesperson Mike Rinder told Page Six.

INCITE sets sail in support of industrial transformation

JRC leads initiative to assess innovative technologies for a greener and more competitive industry. 

The Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) is launching in Seville (Spain) INCITE, the European Innovation Centre for Industrial Transformation and Emissions . Key representatives of industry and the financial sector, experts, innovators, Commission’s senior officials and policymakers are meeting today to kick-start INCITE’s activities and discuss its priorities. 

Watch the livestreamed inauguration  

INCITE will assess the maturity of innovative technologies linked to decarbonisation, resource efficiency, circular economy and depollution, looking at both environmental and economic aspects. By doing so, INCITE aims to help EU industry meet zero pollution objectives while boosting its competitiveness.  

INCITE will cover all the industrial sectors under the Industrial Emissions Directive , with an initial focus on energy-intensive industries, such as steel, cement and chemicals production.  

Accelerating the take-up of breakthrough technologies for industrial transformation 

EU industry needs to keep providing the commodities for citizens and the materials, technologies and infrastructure needed for rolling out cleaner energy solutions, while also reducing its environmental impact.   

INCITE’s experts will scan breakthrough green technologies with a strong potential to lower the environmental impact of industrial activities. INCITE will assess the technology-readiness level of these technologies and their performance improvement potential against environmental objectives and cost effectiveness.  

Techniques considered ready for use will be incorporated in the Sevilla Process , the mechanism that has supported public authorities in granting industrial operating permits in the EU for the last 25 years.  

The Sevilla Process has a solid track record in reducing pollutants: emissions to air have decreased by 40%-75% 1 in the last 15 years for example. The creation of INCITE, addressing not only pollution but also decarbonisation, circular economy and resource efficiency, is a strategic innovation in the revised Industrial Emissions Directive.  

Providing accessible and independent technical assessments  

Experts from INCITE will collect information on innovative industrial techniques from key stakeholders and set up an online information platform that will be openly accessible to e.g. industry, finance institutions, technology providers, permitting authorities and research and technology organisations for submitting information on innovative techniques.  

INCITE will publish its findings in JRC technical reports and curate the information in such a way that it will: 

• ease the administrative burden for Member States related to permitting of installations; 
• help direct national and/or EU funding towards the most promising technologies; 
• facilitate the verification process carried out by public or private investors during the industrial transition.  

INCITE will also provide a forum for the industrial transformation community to exchange ideas and best practices and to promote a collaborative culture by organising sectoral workshops.  

Industry can strongly benefit from access to transparent and reliable information. Small businesses, in particular, face challenges in obtaining a clear understanding of transformative technologies relevant to their industries. Data and forward-looking information are also useful for large EU industries to drive the green transition.  

Assessing environmental performance in all its dimensions 

To support the green transition, accessible information on the environmental impacts brought about by new technologies is key.  

INCITE’s experts will transparently assess innovative techniques to check whether they are ready for use at an industrial scale, cost-effective, energy and resource efficient. They will also consider whether they provide significant environmental benefits, looking at the environmental performance of demonstration plants equipped with new innovative techniques.  

The information will be sourced, assessed and checked in a dialogue with industry, innovators, research organisations technology providers, public authorities and environmental NGOs.   

Guiding investment decisions 

The technical assessments provided by INCITE can help inform investment decisions in innovative technologies needed to advance Europe’s transition towards a cleaner, carbon neutral, more circular and competitive economy by 2050. 

Industry’s challenges: the examples of iron, steel and cement 

Projected demand for iron and steel is expected to grow in the coming years due to economic growth, urbanisation, infrastructure investments and the increasing use of steel products in emerging industries, such as renewable energy and electric vehicles. 

Globally, as in the EU, iron and steel is mostly produced using coal-fired blast furnaces, leading to substantial greenhouse gas emissions. A number of new production techniques are being scaled up, such as hydrogen-based production, and have the potential to be a game-changer in the decarbonisation process. The first iron production plant to run on hydrogen in Sweden is planned for 2026 2 .  

Another example is the cement sector, which is currently responsible for 7-8% of annual CO 2 emissions worldwide, with demand forecast to increase in the coming years. The need to develop new production techniques will be central to achieving a net-zero future for the cement sector. These are likely to include electrification of lower heat precalciners and kilns, new production methods such as producing clinker by mechanical activation, or novel alternative binder chemistries. While many new technologies are being developed, very few of them are yet in a position to be widely implemented at scale. Consequently, the full environmental impact of these emerging technologies is not yet known. 

Co-creating industrial change 

INCITE is a forward-looking initiative that will combine a technical approach with open dialogues on innovation starting with sectors such as cement, iron and steel, chemicals, glass, metals and ceramics. All with the objective of accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies and reduce environmental impact of industrial activities.   

To be effective, INCITE needs as broad an outreach as possible. Everyone with a stake in industrial transformation is welcome to join this new community. 

• Industrial transformations

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Oceania cruise ship rescues 68 migrants from stalled fishing boat, 6 dead

MADRID - A luxury cruise ship  rescued 68 migrants trying to reach the Spanish Canary Islands in a fishing boat that had stalled in rough seas, Spanish authorities and the cruise operator said on Thursday.

Six people died in the incident.

The archipelago has become the main point of entry to Spain for illegal migrants from Africa in recent years and the route is also the deadliest. Migration rights group Walking Borders said last week that nearly 5,000 migrants died at sea on that route during the first five months of 2024.

Bulk carrier Philipp Oldendorff sighted the boat adrift 440 nautical miles (815 km) south of the island of Tenerife on Wednesday and provided first assistance to the migrants, while the Insignia cruise ship was diverted to the area to pick up the survivors, the Spanish Coast Guard said in a statement.

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

The Insignia, which is owned by Miami-based  Oceania Cruises , also recovered three bodies from the boat. Bad weather prevented the recovery of another two bodies so the ship left a locating device to facilitate the search.

The small luxury cruise ship, which has a capacity of 670 passengers, is undertaking a 180-day trip around the world that started in January.

"Safety of life at sea is of paramount importance for all seafarers," said a spokesperson for Oceania Cruises, which is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

"We can confirm that the Insignia rescued 68 people from a vessel in distress between Cape Verde and Tenerife, brought them onboard for medical assistance and provided food, drinks, clothing and a safe place to rest," the spokesperson added.

A Spanish Coast Guard vessel was en route from the Canary Islands on Thursday to meet the Insignia and then locate the shipwreck.