A man is believed to have fallen overboard from the Ruby Princess cruise ship during the approach at the San Francisco coast earlier this week. The incident happened just hours ahead of the ship’s docking schedule in the city and has therefore been met with a full-scale investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard and cruise officials.
The Ruby Princess, a favorite Princess Cruises cruise ship, was sailing for San Francisco after completing an extended voyage when the disappearance was first reported. The ship had been off the coast of California and had raised alerts when the individual could not be located. A swift search of the ship failed to locate the passenger, the crew said and likely placed him overboard.
Immediately after the incident was reported, the U.S. Coast Guard started a search operation deploying helicopters and rescue teams to scour the waters around the Ruby Princess. The cruise ship had actually been just outside San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge when the accident occurred.
The Coast Guard personnel started scouring the water immediately to check for any signs of the missing passenger, and the Ruby Princess continued to go back along the same route it traveled in an attempt to try to find the man. So far, though an extensive search has been made, no sign of the man has been seen. Authorities did not identify the individual; the Coast Guard further stated that weather conditions in that area may affect the success of the search operation.
While the exact details of the incident remain unclear, initial reports suggest that the man may have fallen or intentionally entered the water. The cruise line has not provided specific information regarding the individual’s identity or the circumstances of the fall. Investigations are ongoing, and the cruise line is working closely with the Coast Guard to determine what led to the disappearance.
There has not been any claim of foul play, so at this point, much attention is put on recovering that person and supporting his family. It also remains unclear if the man was traveling solo or whether there were others who might have witnessed whatever happened to him.
Passengers going overboard from cruises is nothing new. Overboard incidents are rare but have been reported on several cruise lines. They usually raise more questions about the safety procedures and protocols in place. Most cruise ships, such as Ruby Princess, have surveillance systems and emergency response teams in place to prevent and respond to such an event. Still, rescues are usually quite difficult over open waters, particularly when a passenger has been in the water for a considerable amount of time.
As the search will continue, the Ruby Princess is expected to dock in San Francisco later today, and passengers will deboard as the investigation becomes public.
