The search for a 51-year-old man, who went overboard from the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, has been officially called off after authorities reported no success in locating him.

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon while the ship was en route from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, to the Bahamas. Despite immediate actions taken by the cruise line and rescue teams, the search efforts yielded no results.

A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson stated, ‘The authorities were immediately notified, and a search and rescue operation under the guidance of the Bahamas Rescue Coordination Center was underway.’ However, as daylight faded, the conditions for successful recovery deteriorated.

After several hours of search, the operation was abandoned late Thursday night. The ship was subsequently cleared by the U.S. Coast Guard to continue its journey, although it was redirected to Nassau.

Witnesses among the ship’s passengers expressed their concern over the situation. One passenger relayed that the captain had informed them of the search’s continuation before announcing the detour. The family of the missing individual is receiving support during this trying time.

As the cruise vessel continues its seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary, the incident raises recurring questions about safety measures in place on board such large ships. The cruise departed Port Canaveral, Florida, on December 23, 2024, and is due to return next week.

The industry, while generally safe, has seen previous overboard incidents, prompting ongoing discussions around passenger safety protocols. Reports confirm the sunset in the Bahamas on the day of the incident was around 5:18 PM, limiting the timeframe for the search.

During this situation, passengers captured videos and shared updates on social media, showing their immediate reactions amidst the search efforts.