Crew Death (fall) on Diamond Princess on 5th May 2023

On 5 May 2023, at approximately 5:30 am Japan Standard Time, a 69-year-old port pilot fell from an assisting pilot boat into the sea as the Diamond Princess cruise ship entered Nagasaki Harbour, Japan. The vessel immediately deployed a rescue boat and retrieved the pilot from the water; he was wearing a lifejacket but was unconscious when recovered. Despite prompt medical attention, the pilot was pronounced dead at a local hospital approximately two hours after the incident.

The incident occurred at the conclusion of the 8-day "Golden Week Circle Japan Cruise" roundtrip itinerary from Yokohama-Tokyo. Japanese maritime authorities were notified and the vessel continued its scheduled port operations.

At approximately 5:30 am local time on 5 May 2023, while Diamond Princess was entering Nagasaki Harbour, the port pilot fell from the assisting pilot boat into the sea. The cruise ship's crew immediately launched a rescue boat and safely retrieved the 69-year-old pilot from the water. The pilot was wearing a lifejacket but was found unconscious. He was transferred to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment but was pronounced dead approximately two hours after rescue.

Fatalities

• 1 port pilot, age 69, died at hospital approximately 2 hours after rescue.

Injuries

• None reported among passengers or crew.

Rescued

• Port pilot recovered from the sea by Diamond Princess rescue boat.

The Diamond Princess crew responded immediately upon the pilot's fall, deploying a rescue boat and retrieving him from the water within a short timeframe. The pilot was transferred to a local hospital in Nagasaki for emergency medical care. Japanese maritime authorities were notified of the incident.

The Diamond Princess continued its scheduled port operations in Nagasaki (port stay 7 am–4 pm on 5 May 2023) and proceeded with the remainder of the Golden Week itinerary as planned.