Disney Cruise Line ships are equipped with overboard detection systems. After the child lost her balance on June 29 and fell backward through a porthole on Deck 4, her father jumped in after her, according to a Broward County Sheriff’s Office report. Neither were named by police.
She fell about 49 feet to the water at 11:29 a.m., per the report, and the overboard alarm was activated at 11:30. By 11:31, an overboard alert was broadcast on the ship’s communication system, and the U.S. Coast Guard was notified. A rescue boat retrieved the father and daughter from the water at 11:49.
However, despite their apparent utility in those emergency situations, they haven’t been as commonplace as travelers might expect. Here’s what to know.
What are cruise ship overboard detection systems?
The technology can notify crew members of overboard incidents and help reduce response times. One such system called MOBtronic “uses a multi-sensor fusion approach combining best-in-class thermal cameras and radar technology,” according to Frederik Giepmans, Managing Director of MARSS Maritime.
“Our system leverages the strengths of radar detection, thermal imaging and video analytics to provide more reliable performance – increasing detection and minimising false alarms – across varying maritime conditions,” he told USA TODAY by email. “This sensor fusion approach has been refined and enhanced over successive generations of the system.”
Are cruises required to have overboard detection systems?
The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 requires passenger vessels operating in the U.S. to “integrate technology that can be used for capturing images of passengers or detecting passengers who have fallen overboard, to the extent that such technology is available.”
Brian Salerno, then senior vice president of global maritime policy at Cruise Lines International Association, told USA TODAY in 2023 that cruise lines were given the choice because there weren’t reliable products available that could detect those incidents when the CVSSA was passed. Multiple companies have worked to create dependable systems in recent years.
Even so, the technology isn’t perfect. When the child sailing on Disney Dream fell, for instance, “her small body figure did not trigger the man overboard (MOB) sensors,” according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office report. The system was not activated until her father jumped in after her.
Disney Cruise Line did not respond to requests for comment on the report or which system its fleet has. The cruise line told USA TODAY at the time of the incident that the vessel’s crew “swiftly rescued two guests from the water.”
“We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes,” the cruise line said in an emailed statement in June. “We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
MOBtronic, for its part, recently completed the third and final phase of testing required for certification in accordance with the relevant ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard, Giepmans said (though the company has not yet received the certification). “It is worth noting that the ISO 21195 standard specifically mandates the detection of ‘adult-sized’ targets,” he added. “Whilst the certification criteria are therefore based on adult-sized mannequins, MOBtronic’s underlying detection capability is not limited to adults only.”
MARSS was unable to specify which cruise ships have its technology onboard, citing client confidentiality agreements.
How many cruise ships have overboard detection systems?
While Disney Cruise Line has said the technology is available on its ships, many other operators have not disclosed that information. CLIA, the cruise industry’s leading trade group, told USA TODAY that it does not track the number of vessels with overboard detection systems.
However, Giepmans said that three of 11 new cruise ships launched in 2025 were equipped with MOBtronic. “MARSS’ MOBtronic system has been deployed across multiple major cruise operator fleets and different vessel classes, including some of the industry’s largest and most advanced ships,” he noted.
While CLIA said that several manufacturers “have made progress” in developing and installing overboard systems, it is not aware of any that have been fully certified under the ISO standard. “Full certification to the ISO standard is an essential step in demonstrating the effectiveness and reliability of MOB detection systems,” the organization added in an email.
How common are cruise line overboard incidents?
There were 212 overboard incidents around the world involving guests and crew members from 2009 to 2019, according to statistics compiled for CLIA by consulting firm G.P. Wild (International) Limited and reviewed by USA TODAY. Just 48 people were rescued.
While the industry’s capacity increased by 68% over the same period, the rate of such incidents fell by nearly 35%. CLIA noted that cruise operators have “maintained an exceptional safety record.”
“The safety of guests and crew is the highest priority for Cruise Lines International Association and its cruise line members,” the organization said. “Every aspect of cruising is heavily regulated and monitored under international maritime law, as well as local jurisdictions. Overboard incidents are exceedingly rare. Cruise lines have implemented robust safety measures to help prevent incidents from occurring and have extensive protocols in place for crew to respond quickly in emergency situations.”
The CVSSA requires railings to be “not less than 42 inches above the cabin deck,” for one, and if someone does go overboard, cruise lines follow standardized procedures.
“I’ll stress that people don’t just fall over the side,” Salerno said in 2023. “There are railings and they’re pretty high. It’s almost always the result of an intentional act.”
By NATHAN DILLER/USA Today
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville.
