On 3 August 1991, "Oceanos" initially delayed due to a bomb threat set out from East London, South Africa and headed for Durban. Captain Yiannis Avranas (born 1940) had been an officer for twenty years and a seaman for thirty. "Oceanos" headed into 40-knot winds and swells. Usually, there would have been a "sail-away" party on deck with the ship's musicians and British entertainers Moss and Tracy Hills. However, due to the rough seas, this was held inside in the Four Seasons lounge; most passengers chose to stay in their cabins.