A harbor pilot was rescued after falling into rough waters while attempting to board the Emerald Princess cruise ship off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, on Saturday (February 10).
The incident occurred as the 3,090-passenger vessel approached Nāwiliwili Harbor on the southeast side of the island. According to witnesses, the pilot was climbing a rope ladder from a pilot boat positioned alongside the ship when he slipped and fell into the ocean after multiple boarding attempts in challenging sea conditions.
“Our pilot slipped on the ladder trying to board the ship in very rough weather conditions,” passenger Walter Biscardi Jr., a Florida-based travel agent, wrote on Instagram. Biscardi observed the incident from his balcony stateroom.
The ship’s crew immediately issued a “man overboard” alert. Passengers reported that the pilot fell approximately 10 to 20 feet from the ship’s hull. Fortunately, the pilot boat crew responded quickly, maneuvering into position and pulling the man from the water within minutes.
“Fortunately, the crew on the boat were able to retrieve him safely,” Biscardi added. Video footage shared by passengers shows the rescue operation, with the pilot appearing uninjured after being pulled back onto the smaller vessel.
The incident occurred while the eastern shores of Kauai were under a high surf advisory from the National Weather Service. Strong trade winds were producing breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet, with surf heights forecast between 8 and 12 feet.
Following the emergency, Princess Cruises canceled the scheduled port call at Kauai. The Emerald Princess, which had departed Los Angeles on February 4 for a 16-night Hawaii voyage, continued to its next scheduled stop in Maui.
The Emerald Princess is scheduled to continue its Hawaiian itinerary with stops in Hilo and Honolulu, followed by a final call in Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to Los Angeles on February 20.
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