The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a crew member who fell overboard from the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship late Saturday (April 25) as it traveled from Bermuda to Boston. The incident was captured on security camera footage, which showed the crew member falling from the vessel, according to the Coast Guard.
After the crew member was reported missing, the ship returned to the individual’s last known position, about 12 miles east of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and deployed a rescue boat and life rings in an effort to assist. The Coast Guard responded with a helicopter and crews from Station Provincetown, arriving shortly after 1 a.m. to aid in the search. Despite these efforts, the search was suspended at 12:25 p.m. local time Sunday (April 26) pending new information.
Norwegian Cruise Line stated, “Upon confirming the incident, the vessel immediately informed the United States Coast Guard Marine Rescue Coordination Center and a coordinated search and rescue operation was initiated. The safety, security, and well-being of our crew is our highest priority. Our thoughts are with the crewmember’s family during this difficult time.”
The search operation lasted about four hours before the Norwegian Breakaway resumed its journey to Boston, which is shorter than typical cruise ship search durations for overboard incidents, as noted by Cruise Law News. The ship’s return to Boston was delayed, affecting embarkation for its next scheduled voyage.
As of Sunday, the crew member’s identity and the circumstances leading to the fall had not been released. The incident marks the second time in two weeks that a Norwegian Cruise Line crew member has gone overboard.
The Coast Guard stated the search will remain suspended unless new information emerges.
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