A man is missing after reportedly going overboard from the Ambition cruise ship during a North Sea crossing, prompting a large search and rescue operation off the coast of Scotland.
The vessel, operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, was travelling from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands to Dundee when the alarm was raised. The ship had around 1,000 people on board at the time.
Passengers held on board during search
The captain and crew were alerted that one passenger was “not where they were expected to be,” the company said. Passengers were briefly held on the ship while HM Coastguard helicopter and plane, lifeboat crews and police patrols were sent out to sea.
A spokesperson for Ambassador Cruise Line said: “Ambassador Cruise Line can confirm that the Captain of Ambition reported a missing person incident earlier this morning.
“The ship, which is now berthed in Dundee, was on passage from Lerwick to Dundee when the alarm was raised after it was found that a guest was not where they were expected to be. Guests on board have been kept informed of developments by the Captain and a thorough ship-wide search was carried out on arrival in Dundee. Having initially been asked to remain on board while the search was carried out, guests have now been cleared to disembark.”
Ongoing police investigation
The company added: “Ambassador follows stringent search and rescue protocols in line with international maritime safety standards. We continue to work in close collaboration with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, HM Coastguard and Police Scotland as the investigation continues.
“Ambassador remains committed to the safety and wellbeing of all our guests and crew. As a result of this development, today’s turnaround operation in Dundee was slightly delayed. However, guests due to travel on board Ambition should make their way to the port as per their embarkation schedule.”
The spokesperson said further details could not be provided because the incident is part of an ongoing police investigation.
Passengers describe 'terrible situation'
Holidaymakers on the cruise reacted to the “terrible” situation, which saw passengers held on board for about an hour before disembarkation was allowed.
One woman said: “We were on board Ambition today, and can only say how professionally and calmly the crew handled this terrible situation. We know many of us now face rearranging our onward journeys, but our thoughts are entirely with the missing passenger’s loved ones at this awful time.
“It feels such a sad and poignant end to what was otherwise an absolutely wonderful cruise.”
Another passenger said: “Such a delicate situation, one that is so hard to deal with emotionally for both the victim’s family and the Captain and crew.”
The incident was reported to the Coastguard at about 8.35am, when the vessel was around 36 nautical miles east of Arbroath, Fife. Police Scotland confirmed it received a report at about 8.55am that “a man had gone overboard from a cruise ship in the North Sea.”
A spokesperson for the force said: “A search and rescue operation is currently being carried out by HM Coastguard, but the man remains missing. His next of kin is aware. Police enquiries remain ongoing.”
MS Ambition had been on a two-week cruise touring Shetland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The distance between Lerwick and Dundee is around 216 miles (188 nautical miles).
