A large sea search and rescue operation is underway off the coast of Scotland after a man was discovered missing from the Ambassador Cruise Line's Ambition vessel during a North Sea crossing. The alarm was raised when the passenger was found to be 'not where they were expected to be,' according to a company spokesperson.
The Ambition cruise, carrying around 1,000 people, was en route from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands to Dundee when the incident occurred. The ship's captain and crew were alerted, and passengers were briefly held on board while a Coastguard helicopter, plane, lifeboat crews, and police patrols were dispatched to search the sea.
Passengers Describe 'Terrible Situation'
Holidaymakers on the cruise reacted to the 'terrible' situation, which saw passengers being held on board for about an hour before disembarkation was allowed. One woman praised the crew's handling of the ordeal, saying: 'We were on board Ambition today, and can only say how professionally and calmly the crew handled this terrible situation. We know many of us now face rearranging our onward journeys, but our thoughts are entirely with the missing passenger's loved ones at this awful time.'
Another passenger added: 'Such a delicate situation, one that is so hard to deal with emotionally for both the victim's family and the Captain and crew.'
Coastguard and Police Respond
The incident was reported to the Coastguard at about 8.35am, when the vessel was around 36 nautical miles east of Arbroath, Fife, according to Metro. Police Scotland confirmed it received a report at about 8.55am that 'a man had gone overboard from a cruise ship in the North Sea.'
A spokesperson for the force told Metro: 'A search and rescue operation is currently being carried out by HM Coastguard, but the man remains missing. His next of kin is aware. Police enquiries remain ongoing.'
Company Confirms Incident and Ongoing Investigation
Ambassador Cruise Line issued a statement confirming the missing person report. The spokesperson said: 'Ambassador Cruise Line can confirm that the Captain of Ambition reported a missing person incident earlier this morning. The ship, which is now berthed in Dundee, was on passage from Lerwick to Dundee when the alarm was raised after it was found that a guest was not where they were expected to be.'
'Guests on board have been kept informed of developments by the Captain and a thorough ship-wide search was carried out on arrival in Dundee. Having initially been asked to remain on board while the search was carried out, guests have now been cleared to disembark. Ambassador follows stringent search and rescue protocols in line with international maritime safety standards. We continue to work in close collaboration with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, HM Coastguard and Police Scotland as the investigation continues.'
The company added that today's turnaround operation in Dundee was slightly delayed but that guests due to travel on Ambition should make their way to the port as per their embarkation schedule. The spokesperson stated: 'We are unable to provide further details at this time due to this incident forming part of an ongoing police investigation.'
MS Ambition had been on a two-week cruise touring Shetland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. The distance between Lerwick on the remote Shetland islands and Dundee is around 216 miles (188 nautical miles). The man remains missing, and the search and rescue operation continues.
