A passenger jumped overboard from the Carnival Splendor cruise ship near Moreton Island, near Brisbane, on Friday night. The man is understood to have climbed over the safety railing and jumped overboard. The man's family alerted the ship's crew of a possible missing person.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) led a search and rescue operation with assistance from Queensland Police. The search involved five rescue helicopters, six surface vessels, and Challenger jets. AMSA suspended the search at 5:30 PM on Saturday after the missing person was not located.
We are currently working on revised timing and will be back in touch later this afternoon with further details.
The Carnival Splendor arrived at Sydney Harbour around 6:00 PM on Sunday, several hours later than scheduled. In a separate tragic incident on the same voyage, a 67-year-old Tasmanian woman from the Carnival Splendor drowned during a snorkeling excursion at Moreton Island on Friday, hours before the man went overboard. The woman was pulled to shore by an off-duty lifesaver but died at the scene.
Carnival's Care Team is supporting the man's family. Carnival will assist authorities in their investigation upon the ship's return to Sydney. Passengers were sent a letter from Carnival staff titled 'Important information' warning of a search and rescue operation and delayed arrival, but it did not mention the reason for the operation.
Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received our final update on new embarkation times.
The letter was issued by VP Guest Services Colleen Olivero. Major media reports indicate the man was in his 70s, while other sources suggest he was in his 30s. Previous incidents on cruise ships highlight ongoing safety challenges in the maritime industry.
Reactions from passengers and maritime safety experts have varied, with many expressing concern over the dual tragedies. The implications for cruise industry safety and regulatory oversight are significant, as these incidents may prompt reviews by authorities like AMSA. Several unknowns remain about the overboard incident, including the identity and exact cause of death for the man.
It is unclear whether the man's body was ever recovered after the search was suspended, and the specific reasons or motivations behind his actions have not been confirmed. The full content and timing of the investigation by authorities upon the ship's return to Sydney are also pending, along with the impact on other passengers and any compensation or support provided beyond the delayed arrival.