US Coast Guard searches for cruise ship passenger in Bahamas

Witnesses saw her fall off the 11th deck of the Carnival Ecstasy at about 2:30 a.m. Both ships will be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas under Carnival Corp.’s exclusive “green cruising” design and will mark the first time an LNG-powered cruise ship is based in North America. Carnival Ecstasy is now on a five night cruise to the Bahamas from Charleston, South Carolina.

The ship had left Freeport, Bahamas on Tuesday and was approximately 27 miles southwest of the city when the incident happened. The missing passenger has not been identified, but the Coast Guard said she is a USA citizen who was wearing a white dress.

The Coast Guard in Miami dispatched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter along with an HC-144 Ocean Sentry and the Coast Guard Cutter Gannet to search the surrounding waters of the Caribbean.

The ships announced Tuesday belong to the same class as four previous ships that were ordered a year ago by the parent company, which made news because Carnival said they would be able to hold a record 6,600 passengers with every berth filled.

Carnival Cruise Line, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), presently operates a fleet of 25 ships. Webber crew was also diverted to assist in the search.

Delayed about one hour, the ship will arrive in Charleston at 8 a.m. Thursday, officials say. “The company’s CareTeam is providing assistance and support to the missing guest’s family on board and our thoughts and prayers are with her and family and loved ones during this hard time”.

The woman’s identity has not been released.