Embarked – started or began a journey or new activity

Collided – crashed into or hit something with force

Dire – extremely serious or urgent; terrible

Adrift  – floating without control or direction

Harrowing  – extremely distressing or traumatic

Salvage  – rescue or save something from loss or destruction

Desalination  – the process of removing salt from seawater

Succumb  – fail to resist; give in to something (often death or pressure)

Acute  – severe or intense (especially of medical conditions)

Aversion – a strong dislike or disinclination toward something