Around 55 holidaymakers had been taking part in a sailing activity as part of their cruise holiday on Saturday in the Dominican Republic.
Mail Online reports that the 40ft catamaran they had been travelling on, named Boca de Yuma I, sprang a leak and quickly began sinking in the bay of Samana.
Images from the scene show dozens of tourists bobbing in the sea wearing lifejackets.
The Navy, civil defence authorities, and first responders launched a rescue mission to save the 55 passengers who had been left stranded in open waters.
Rescue workers were eventually able to pull all the holidaymakers from the sea unharmed.
The provincial director of civil protection told the Dominican Republic daily newspaper Diario Libre that the cause of the sinking was still unknown and is being investigated by experts.
Preliminary findings suggest a ‘technical defect’ in the catamaran’s hull.
The passengers had been holidaying on the German TUI cruise ship Mein Schiff 1 before disembarking on to the catamaran, provided by an external company.
Sabine Lüke, spokesperson for TUI Cruises, told BILD: ‘We confirm that an excursion catamaran belonging to an external provider sank during a shore excursion program.
‘There were just over 50 guests from the Mein Schiff 1 on board, who are all safe and sound and have since returned safely to the ship.’
TUI Cruises is reportedly in close contact with the operator and the relevant authorities regarding the ship accident to conduct a thorough investigation.
Lüke added: ‘The safety and well-being of our guests is our top priority. Should individual assistance be necessary, it will of course be provided.’
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