The United States Coast Guard (USCG) announced on the evening of January 1 that it has called off the search for a 77-year-old woman who went missing after falling overboard from the cruise ship Nieuw Statendam. The vessel was sailing in waters off the northern coast of Cuba when the incident occurred.
Through its official account on X, the USCG stated that the search operation has been paused "awaiting new information." This decision follows an extensive search effort conducted by both cruise ship personnel and Coast Guard crews, which spanned approximately eight hours and covered a maritime area of 690 square miles.
Earlier, the Coast Guard had provided details that their teams were actively searching for the passenger, who had fallen overboard from the Nieuw Statendam about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, along Cuba's northern coastline.
The search involved the participation of the Cutter William Trump and an MH-60 helicopter from the Clearwater Air Station, conducting both aerial and sea patrols in the area.
The incident unfolded when the 77-year-old passenger fell into the sea from the Holland America Line's cruise ship as it was traveling through the Caribbean. As of now, the woman's identity has not been disclosed, and the exact circumstances surrounding the fall are still under investigation.
The Nieuw Statendam, measuring 975 feet in length and capable of accommodating nearly 2,700 guests, departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on December 27. Its itinerary included a stop in Key West before heading back to Florida.
Since the emergency was reported, the cruise line has expressed its cooperation with U.S. authorities, emphasizing its commitment to supporting the search efforts and providing assistance to the family of the missing passenger.
In the initial hours of the operation, the USCG deployed both air and sea resources in line with their search and rescue protocols, working in tandem with the cruise ship's crew and the regional maritime surveillance system.
Authorities noted that the area where the woman fell presented challenging sea conditions, complicating the search efforts. Despite previous statements indicating that the Coast Guard would maintain its search protocols as long as there was hope of finding the passenger, the agency has now confirmed the suspension of the primary operation. However, they have left open the possibility of resuming the search should new information come to light.
Details About the Missing Cruise Passenger Incident
What was the area covered by the search operation?
The search operation covered a maritime area of 690 square miles near the northern coast of Cuba.
Which resources were deployed in the search?
The search involved the Cutter William Trump and an MH-60 helicopter from the Clearwater Air Station, conducting both aerial and sea patrols.
When did the Nieuw Statendam depart on its journey?
The Nieuw Statendam set sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on December 27.