An MSC Cruises ship rescued nearly 20 people from rough seas near Spain.

"MSC Splendida was tasked by the relevant authorities to offer support to a vessel carrying 19 refugees which was in trouble in rough seas 10 miles from Palma (de) Mallorca," the cruise line told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The rescue took place on Oct. 26.

Spanish authorities asked the vessel to assist the refugees "due to the unsafe condition of their vessel and the rough weather," according to MSC. The company did not specify who the people rescued were.

MSC Splendida was on its way to Barcelona at the time as part of a Mediterranean cruise that departed on Oct. 23, according to CruiseMapper.

"Every seafarer always puts safety first and foremost and the saving to avoid loss of life is part of our DNA," said the ship’s captain, Giuseppe Maresca, who led the rescue mission. "My crew played their part to ensure that this rescue was carried out safely in difficult conditions. I am very proud of my crew and their professional and caring response."

The cruise ship’s crew gave medical care, food and drinks, clean clothes and "a safe place of rest" to those rescued before they disembarked in Barcelona.

The news comes after a Norwegian Cruise Line ship rescued 63 people in the Ionian Sea last week.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MSC cruise ship rescues 19 people from rough seas near Spain

Reporting by Nathan Diller, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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