P &O Cruises’ Britannia ship helped try to save more than 30 people after a small boat capsized in the Caribbean.

The 3,647- passenger ship Britannia diverted from its route to assist the local coast guard around 12 nautical miles northeast off the coast of St Kitts to search for survivors.

Local reports say there had been 32 people in the ‘dangerously overcrowded’ boat, and it was later confirmed that 13 of them died and three remain missing.

P&O Cruises told Cruise Hive: “The Britannia was the lead ship to help in the efforts with the yacht, which capsized in the early hours of the morning.

“The incident has now been handed over to the St Kitts and Nevis coastguard.”

The ship was on a re-positioning 14-night cruise from Barbados to Southampton when it was asked to help in the rescue mission on Tuesday.