Crew Member Overboard Incident on ms Rotterdam: Incident on 12 April 2024

On 12 April 2024, a male crew member went overboard from the ms Rotterdam while the vessel was navigating waters between Cuba and Key West, South Florida. The incident occurred at approximately 9:45 PM Florida time during the final night of a 6-day Western Caribbean cruise. A subsequent search and rescue operation led by the US Coast Guard did not result in the recovery of the crew member.

The overboard incident was discovered and confirmed after security personnel reviewed CCTV footage. The US Coast Guard was notified and coordinated the search and rescue response in the waters off South Florida.

Security personnel discovered the incident through CCTV review and confirmed that the crew member had gone overboard at approximately 9:45 PM Florida time. The US Coast Guard was immediately notified and launched a search and rescue operation in the waters between Cuba and Key West. Despite immediate efforts to locate the crew member, the search did not result in recovery.

Fatalities

• 1 crew member (male) — not recovered.

Injuries

• None reported.

Rescued

• No recovery achieved; search and rescue operation conducted by US Coast Guard.

The US Coast Guard was notified following discovery of the overboard incident and coordinated a search and rescue operation in the waters between Cuba and Key West. The vessel remained in the area to support the response efforts.

The ms Rotterdam continued to port following the conclusion of the search and rescue operation. The incident cast a somber tone over the voyage's final hours and underscored the critical importance of mental health and safety measures aboard cruise ships.