A passenger went overboard from the HAL-Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Statendam while the vessel was sailing north of Cuba, prompting an extended search by the ship’s crew and the United States Coast Guard that was later suspended.
According to information released by the U.S. Coast Guard, the incident involved a 77-year-old woman and occurred when the ship was approximately 40 nautical miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba. Following the report, the ship’s master and crew initiated onboard search and rescue procedures and coordinated with U.S. Coast Guard authorities. A cutter and a helicopter were deployed to assist in the operation.
The Coast Guard later confirmed that the search was discontinued after several hours when no new information emerged. Search efforts covered roughly 690 square miles over a period of about 8 hours and involved both shipboard personnel and Coast Guard assets.
Nieuw Statendam had departed Fort Lauderdale on December 27th for a 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary. As a result of the extended search operation, the vessel’s scheduled call at Key West, Florida, was cancelled.
Holland America Line confirmed the overboard incident and indicated that its family assistance team was providing support to the passenger’s relatives. The company acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and noted that its focus remained on supporting those affected while cooperating fully with the authorities involved.
For more Nieuw Statendam incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page.