Carnival “Spider-Man” Climber Charged After Dangerous Stunt in Sydney

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A 29-year-old man scaled the mooring ropes of Carnival Adventure and now faces three criminal charges and a court date in June.

Man climbs mooring ropes Carnival Adventure
Image credits: wwww.tiltok.com.rf1969

After turning heads and sparking viral videos with a reckless act that saw him scaling the mooring lines of Carnival Adventure at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal on 17th May 2025, the man behind the stunt is now facing serious legal repercussions.

Dubbed “Spider-Man” on social media, the 29-year-old was seen dangerously clambering up the thick ropes tethering the 108,865-gross-ton ship to the dock. Videos of the incident quickly spread across social media.

The stunt halted port activity and quickly drew the attention of New South Wales police, who coordinated with the ship’s crew to safely lower the ropes toward a police boat.

Officers then took the man into custody without incident.

@wwww.tiltok.com.rf1969 Spider-Man spotted attempting to save a nuclear threat on a cruise boat in darling harbour #spiderman #marvel ♬ original sound – wwww.tiltok.com.rf1969

Three Charges Filed Following Arrest

According to News.com.au, the man was formally charged with three offenses:

  • Entering a cleared zone without being screened and cleared
  • Entering a landside restricted zone without authorisation
  • Entering a waterside restricted zone without authorisation

After being transported to Day Street Police Station, located just minutes from the cruise terminal, the man was released on conditional bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on 11th June 2025.

While Carnival Cruise Line has not yet released a public statement, it is widely expected that the individual will be banned from future cruises with Carnival and potentially its sister brands.

@wwww.tiltok.com.rf1969 Tom Cruise spotted at Curcular Quay during Mission Impossible Filming #missionimpossible #tomcruise #missionimpossible#13 ♬ INTERESTELLAR – Kore Blanco

Carnival enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy when it comes to behaviours that endanger passengers, crew, or the ship itself.

Depending on the court’s ruling, the climber could face significant penalties, including imprisonment, house arrest, or fines.

The spectacle may have looked daring to some, but authorities and cruise experts stress that such stunts can easily turn fatal.

Had the man lost his grip, he could have fallen between the ship and the dock, risking serious injury, drowning, or being crushed. There have already been real-world examples of such tragedies in recent months:

In April 2025, a child accidentally fell between a Royal Caribbean ship and the pier at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Thankfully, they were rescued.

On December 26, 2024, an elderly guest fell from their motorized wheelchair into the water at St. Maarten and tragically passed away.

Moreover, the man climbed the ship’s mooring lines – crucial equipment designed to hold the ship in place.

While built to withstand extreme forces, they are not meant to support human weight. Had one snapped under tension, it could have caused serious injury or death, not just to the climber but to anyone nearby.

This incident ended without physical harm, but authorities are using it as a powerful reminder: actions like these have real-world consequences. Beyond the legal ramifications, the safety risks to the individual, crew, and vessel were enormous.

Cruise ports, terminals, and ships are secure maritime zones, and breaches are not treated lightly. As cruising continues to grow in popularity, law enforcement and cruise lines alike are making it clear – unauthorized access and reckless behaviour won’t be tolerated.

Let this serve as a warning to thrill-seekers: the ocean is no playground, and cruise security is no joke.

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