Oceanos: Rescue off the Wild Coast | “Just A Precaution” | 1

Against The Odds

Wondery

Cassie De Pecol, History, Society & Culture, Dolby, Mike Corey, Dolby Atmos, Atmos

4.7 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 June 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On the night of August 3, 1991, the cruise ship Oceanos sets sail from South Africa’s eastern cape with 571 people aboard—despite a massive storm barreling up the coast. Soon, a breach in the hull knocks out power, and the ship begins taking on water. As senior officers abandon ship, the fate of everyone on board falls to the ship’s entertainers, who must lead a mass evacuation before the Oceanos vanishes beneath the waves.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Against the Odds early and ad-free right now.
0:05.6	Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
0:10.1	A listener note. Against the odds uses dramatizations that are based on true events.
0:15.5	Some elements including dialogue may be invented, but everything is based on research.
0:29.3	Thank you. dialogue may be invented, but everything is based on research. Michael O. Mahoney slides a fresh diaper under his three-month-old daughter, Maggie,
0:34.0	as she fuses on the bed of their cabin aboard the cruise ship, Oceanos. He plants his feet wide to stay steady, as she fusses on the bed of their cabin aboard the cruise ship Oceanos.
0:38.7	He plants his feet wide to stay steady as another wave slams into the hole.
0:44.1	He hums softly to soothe Meggy, working by the dim glow of the emergency lights.
0:50.1	On the other twin bed, his four-year-old son Liam stirs.
0:59.0	A little while ago, the ship took a hard hit, and the main power went out. Michael still doesn't know why, but luckily, he's changed enough diapers to do it blindfolded.
1:05.0	There we go, sweetheart. All done.
1:08.0	It's almost 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 3rd, 1991.
1:13.1	Michael and his family are five hours into an overnight cruise up the eastern coast of South
1:18.3	Africa.
1:19.6	The brutal storm that delayed their departure hasn't eased.
1:23.0	If anything, it's gotten worse.
1:26.2	Waves are 40 feet high.
1:28.1	Michael now understands why this stretch of coastline is called the Wild Coast.
1:33.7	He lowers Meggy into her crib, then straightens up and exhales.
1:39.0	The cabin is quiet.
1:41.2	Too quiet.
1:42.7	That's when he notices what's missing. the steady thrum of the ship's engines.
	...

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