Authorities have launched a search for a 72-year-old man believed to have gone overboard from a Princess Cruise ship prior to its arrival in San Francisco on Monday.
According to Princess Cruises, the incident involving a passenger on the Ruby Princess happened early Monday morning, before the ship’s 6:50 a.m. arrival in San Francisco. The passenger’s disappearance came near the end of a five-day round trip to Ensenada, Mexico. . The ship departed San Francisco on November 27.
“Princess Cruises is saddened to report that a 72-year-old American man went overboard earlier today prior to Ruby Princess’s arrival in San Francisco,” the cruise line’s statement said.
Authorities said the U.S. Coast Guard was contacted around noon and asked to conduct an aerial search for the man who had gone overboard. At least one aircraft was deployed to conduct the search, but it had to refuel and was not relaunched until shortly before 3 p.m.
The Coast Guard said they planned to start their search 45 miles outside Monterey, based on information from Princess Cruises.
Princess Cruise officials also said the matter is being investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with the full cooperation of the cruise line.
“CCTV footage has also been extensively reviewed and the vessel has been thoroughly searched several times, without success. With other possibilities now ruled out, this is being treated as a man overboard incident,” the statement said.
Princess Cruises has extended its condolences to the family and friends of the guest who traveled alone.
The ship’s departure for a 16-day trip to the Hawaiian Islands was postponed due to the incident, but the Ruby Princess is expected to depart on Monday.
The Ruby Princess does the same ship that pulled into the dock at Pier 27 last summer, causing damage to the hull that required repairs.
