Passenger overboard from Stena Line's cruiseferry in Belfast (Northern Ireland)

   October 31, 2022 ,   Accidents

A major search & rescue operation was launched in the Belfast Lough area (Northern Ireland) late on Saturday night, October 29.

Multiple emergency services worked through the night prior to pausing and then restarting their searches at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 30.

The ferry company Stena Line confirmed that a man had gone overboard from one of their boats.

The Lagan Search & Rescue team confirmed in a post on social media at ~10:30 pm that it had been on a callout.

Online Boat and aircraft trackers showed that an RNLI lifeboat, Pilot Boat, Lagan Search & Rescue boat, and harbour police boat appeared to be searching an area near Green Island. A Rescue 199 helicopter (dispatched from Prestwick Scotland) also participated in the S&R operation.

Port of Belfast (Northern Ireland)

In a statement issued shortly before 2 am on Sunday morning, Northern Ireland's PSNI-Police Service said the police and other emergency services were currently involved in an ongoing search of the Belfast Lough area.

There were no further details at the time and they are asking members of the public to avoid the area.

Currently, STENA LINE homeports in Belfast three cruiseferries - Embla, Superfast 7 and Superfast 8.