In another overboard tragedy this week a man jumped overboard Anthem of the Seas cruise ship on Friday afternoon and the U.S. Coast Guard has now called off its search for him.
A 24-year-old yet to named man jumped overboard Anthem of the Seas on Friday afternoon as the Royal Caribbean cruise ship was heading back to its homeport in New Jersey. The U.S. Coast Guard mentioned that the young man went overboard at around 3:30 PM when the large vessel was 65 miles offshore Chincoteague, Virginia.
Anthem of the Seas activated overboard procedures and started a search pattern. Another cruise nearby named Norwegian Gem operated by Norwegian Cruise Line was also involved in the search. The U.S. Coast Guard was notified and assets were deployed including an airplane, helicopter and cutter boat but sadly the search has now been called off.
Guests onboard the Quantum-class cruise ship posted on social media as the search operation was underway:
Norwegian ship hanging close to Anthem of the Seas. I assume they are helping with the search. pic.twitter.com/emEcHq92FU
— Claudia (@missbelgium) April 13, 2018
Man overboard on Anthem of the Seas. Several ships and helicopters searching. It’s almost dark. My heart goes out to the family. pic.twitter.com/JOtcyaxn3L
— Frank Furio (@frank_furio) April 13, 2018
Just caught up to Anthem of the Seas. No sign of anything yet…. pic.twitter.com/eDQDosEJKt
— Melissa (@SithLordMel) April 13, 2018
Very sad final day on our Anthem of the Seas cruise when a passenger jumped overboard. Search by our ship, Norwegian Gem and 2 coast guard aircraft was unsuccessful :(
Can’t imagine what the family is going through. pic.twitter.com/QXuqBhmkSm
— Emil H ☕️ (@ehed) April 14, 2018
Anthem of the Seas was coming to the end of 7-night Bahamas cruise and is scheduled to arrive at its homeport in Bayonne, New Jersey on Saturday, April 14. The ships final port of call was in Nassau on April 11 before sailing back up off the U.S. East Coast. The ship is 168,888 gross tons with a passenger capacity of over 4,100.
Also Read: Man Overboard Cruise Ship Procedures
It’s never good posting about these overboard tragedies and we can never imagine what the young man’s family must be going through right now. Unfortunately, this is the second overboard this week. On Thursday a woman fell overboard the Pacific Dawn cruise ship which is based out of Australia, there were high ocean swells and the search for her was also later called off.