On Monday, July 31, an alarming incident unfolded as a passenger aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas fell overboard into the waters of the Singapore Strait.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed the unfortunate event and swiftly initiated search and rescue efforts to locate the missing individual.
The MPA received notification of the incident at approximately 7.50am on Monday when the luxury cruise liner was en route to Singapore. Responding to the emergency, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) promptly coordinated search operations and issued navigational safety broadcasts to all vessels in the Singapore Strait and those in port, urging them to remain vigilant and report any sightings of the missing person.
At this time, specific details about the passenger who fell overboard have not been released to the public.
Initially, it was reported that the Spectrum of the Seas had been berthed in Singapore, supporting ongoing investigations. However, a subsequent update from the MPA at 11pm revealed that the cruise ship departed Singapore at 4.30pm on the same day.
Royal Caribbean International also confirmed that the vessel had been “cleared by authorities” and resumed its scheduled journey on Monday evening. The cruise itinerary, according to the Royal Caribbean website, was set for a 12-night voyage to Tokyo, with planned stops in Vietnam and Hong Kong, commencing on July 31.
Tracking data from the ship’s route, as shown on the Marine Traffic website at 10.30pm, indicated that the vessel was en route to Nha Trang, Vietnam, at the time of the incident.
The ship’s crew promptly launched a search and rescue operation upon realizing that a passenger had fallen overboard during this leg of the journey.
As the search efforts continue, Royal Caribbean has deployed a dedicated care team to provide support and assistance to the family of the missing passenger.
The maritime authorities and the cruise line are working closely together to ensure all necessary measures are taken to locate the missing individual and to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Updates on the ongoing investigation and the status of the passenger’s recovery will be made public as soon as further information becomes available. The company stated that a care team is currently providing assistance and support to the family of the missing passenger.
PASSENGERS UNAWARE
Passengers on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas said they were unaware that someone had fallen overboard until news broke online. According to several passengers who spoke to CNA, there were a few announcements paging for a woman to report to guest services sometime between 5.30 am and 6.30 am on Monday (Jul 31) morning. Mr. Pedro Adrian Aguirre, who was awake and sitting at his room’s balcony, initially thought the announcements were related to an outstanding debt, considering it was the last day of the cruise.
Another passenger, Ms. M Ori, mentioned that the announcements were broadcast “in the cabins and all over the ship” at about 6 am within a span of about 30 minutes. Ms. Ori, who had cruised over 50 times before, sensed that something was amiss. However, one passenger contacted by CNA stated he did not hear the announcements as he was asleep.
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