Coast Guard Searches For Missing Filipino Crew Member Who Fell Off Cruise Near St. Thomas

Coast Guard Searches For Missing Filipino Crew Member Who Fell Off Cruise Near St. Thomas

Coast Guard Searches For Missing Filipino Crew Member Who Fell Off Cruise Near St. Thomas

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue crews are still looking for a crew member of the cruise ship MSC Seaside who went overboard about eight nautical miles southeast of St. Thomas.

The cruise ship was transiting from St. Maarten to San Juan, Puerto Rico when the incident occurred.

The crewmember has been identified as Michael M. Majaba, 37, a Philippine national. Majaba reportedly went overboard from the seventh deck of the cruise ship at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

The crew launched a search, and after three hours, the Seaside contacted watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center to request assistance.

Watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence, launched a 33-foot small boat and a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen.

According to industry outlets, the Carnival Glory and several merchant vessels were also involved in the search.

The MSC Seaside assisted for a period; according to her AIS signal, she was under way once more at 2030 hours Wednesday, making 14 knots towards Nassau. Cruise news outlet Cruceros Puerto Rico noted that she skipped her stop in San Juan.

(THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE)