Search Ends for Cruise Passenger
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for a cruise ship passenger believed to have fallen overboard in the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Puget Sound.
The passenger was a 65-year old male traveling on Holland America’s M/V Statendam when disappeared after the ship passed near Protection Island in the Strait. The 1,258 passenger ship had departed Victoria, BC on July 12. The passenger, a U.S. citizen, was unaccounted for when the ship arrived in Seattle, completing its 14-day cruise on July 13th.
U.S. Coast Guard sent aircraft and the Cutter Blueshark to search to search for the man along the ship’s route, but were diverted to another area after cruise line personnel reviewed onboard security footage.
The USCG and Holland America are working together to locate the missing passenger. Meanwhile, the coast guard has asked mariners in the areas to be vigilant and report to them after transiting the search area.