An emergency maritime operation was carried out by the Port Authority of Durrës after a tourist cruise ship issued a distress call while sailing near Albanian waters.

The cruise ship Marbella Explorer II sent a request for assistance at approximately 11:50 p.m. while located around 20 miles off the coast of Durrës, after a British citizen on board suffered a serious medical emergency.

According to information provided by the ship’s captain, the passenger was experiencing severe symptoms requiring urgent hospital treatment. The cruise ship was traveling from Corfu to Kotor when the Port Authority of Durrës instructed it to approach the Albanian port area to allow emergency intervention.

Authorities were immediately notified, including the Albanian Maritime Services Directorate tugboat crew and emergency medical teams, to facilitate the transfer of the patient from the vessel to shore and transport him to the Regional Hospital of Durrës.

At around 2:30 a.m., the British citizen, identified by the initials C.P., arrived at the hospital under medical supervision, where he remains hospitalized but is reported to be out of danger.

The operation involved the ASHD vessel “Joni” and its crew, along with officers from the Port Authority of Durrës. According to information obtained by Top Channel journalist Vali Qyrfyçi, the man is suffering from an acute ventral hernia.