This past weekend, a Balearia ferry faced tough weather while trying to cross the Strait of Gibraltar. After several challenging hours at sea, the ferry decided to turn back and return passengers to port.

The Ciudad de Mahón ferry left Algeciras, Spain on Saturday night, heading to Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the North African coast. Shortly after setting sail, the ferry encountered strong winds of force 7 and waves of 3 to 4 meters, caused by Storm Emilia.

Passengers described the ferry moving violently, with unsecured items flying around. Many experienced intense seasickness during the journey.

As the conditions worsened, the captain concluded that it would be unsafe to enter the port of Ceuta and chose to return to Algeciras instead.

After struggling against the storm for several hours, the ferry finally arrived back at Algeciras. Passengers were left tired from the rough seas.

The severe motion during the trip also resulted in damage to vehicles that were secured in the cargo hold.

Balearia reported that the ferry can carry about 1,000 passengers and 350 vehicles. After the incident, the company offered compensation to those affected and arranged for vehicle repairs.

No significant structural damage to the ferry or injuries were reported.