The U.S. Coast Guard paused its search Sunday after a crew member went overboard from the Norwegian Breakaway, a Norwegian Cruise Line ship bound for Boston, and was seen falling from the vessel on security video. The incident unfolded about 12 miles east of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, as the cruise ship traveled from Bermuda to Boston.
The Coast Guard said a search was launched after authorities were notified that a crew member had gone overboard. A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter arrived on scene at about 0119 local time, and a Coast Guard HC144 later took over the aerial search while working with the Station Provincetown crew. The ship returned to the person’s last known position and deployed a rescue boat and life rings in an effort to help.
By 12:25 p.m. local time, the Coast Guard said the search was suspended pending new information. Norwegian Cruise Line said the vessel immediately informed the United States Coast Guard Marine Rescue Coordination Center after confirming the incident and that the Coast Guard took over the search and rescue operation. The company also said the Norwegian Breakaway was released to continue the voyage.
The case turned on one stark fact: the person was seen going into the water on security video, but the search did not produce a result before it was halted. Norwegian Cruise Line said safety, security and the well-being of its crew are its highest priority, and said its thoughts were with the crew member’s family during what it called a difficult time.
That left the question of what happened to the crew member unresolved as the ship continued on to Boston. For now, the Coast Guard has closed the active search, not the possibility of more information if something new comes in.
