WELLFLEET, MASSACHUSETTS — A crew member fell overboard from the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship approximately 12 miles off the coast of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, on Sunday while the vessel was traveling from Bermuda to Boston. The U.S. Coast Guard and the ship conducted an overnight search that was suspended just after noon pending new information.
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received a report that a crew member was seen on a security camera falling from the Norwegian Breakaway. The ship returned to the last known position of the individual and deployed its rescue boat and life rings in an attempt to assist.
A ship-wide man overboard announcement was issued and lifeboats were launched, according to a passenger. Rescuers searched overnight Sunday off the coast of Massachusetts following the announcement.
A search helicopter arrived just after 1:15 a.m. to assist, and a crew from Coast Guard Station Provincetown joined the effort. Another helicopter took off later Sunday morning, and aerial searches continued through the morning.
The cruise ship arrived at Boston's Black Falcon Terminal just before noon on Sunday. A letter to passengers stated that overnight and into the early morning hours, the ship remained engaged in search and rescue efforts following a man overboard situation, working closely with maritime authorities.
The search was suspended just after noon pending new information. The name of the person who fell overboard has not been released. It is not yet known what caused the crew member to fall overboard.