Coast Guard Suspends Search for Woman Overboard Near Cuba
Search Suspended for woman Who Went Overboard From Cruise Ship Near Cuba
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Incident Overview
A passenger on the Holland America Line ship Nieuw Statendam went overboard in waters north of Cuba on Thursday,February 1,2024. The U.S. coast Guard conducted an extensive search before suspending operations after approximately 15 hours.
Holland America Line confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the ship’s captain and crew instantly initiated search-and-rescue procedures in coordination with the U.S. Coast guard who deployed a cutter and helicopter to assist.
Search Efforts and Suspension
The U.S.Coast Guard initially searched for the woman, covering over 690 square miles. However,the search was later suspended. The Coast Guard announced the suspension of the search after eight hours of searching,and Holland America confirmed it was suspended at sundown after 15 hours.
Limited Information Released
Holland America Line has not released any details regarding the woman’s identity or the circumstances surrounding how she went overboard according to the New York Times.
The scheduled port call in Key West, Florida, was canceled due to the search operation.
Cruise Details and support
The Nieuw Statendam departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 27, 2023, for a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise. The ship is 975 feet long and 115 feet wide, with a capacity to accommodate over 2,600 passengers.
Holland America stated that its family assistance team is providing support to the guest’s family and expressed condolences to her loved ones during this arduous time.