The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SEATTLE) — The Coast Guard suspended the active search for a missing cruise ship passenger northwest of Protection Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca at 6:10 p.m. Monday.
“We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to those affected, however, despite our best efforts we have been unable to locate the missing passenger,” said Eric Cookson, a command duty officer at Sector Puget Sound.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles, two 87-foot patrol boat crews, the Coast Guard cutter Blueshark home-ported in Everett and the Coast Guard cutter Wahoo homeported in Port Angeles, and two 45-foot response boat-medium crews, one from Station Port Angeles and one from Station Seattle, searched over 230 miles and for more than six hours.
The Coast Guard suspends a search and rescue case with great care and deliberation. After a probable search area is saturated with maximum number of assets and crew effort, and the person is not located, the decision is made to suspend an active search.
The Coast Guard can resume an active search if credible information is received regarding the missing person’s whereabouts.
PREVIOUS REPORT
(SEATTLE) (July 13) — Coast Guard crews are searching for a cruise ship passenger northwest of Protection Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Monday.
Coast Guard crews from Air Station Port Angeles, Coast Guard cutter Blueshark, Coast Guard cutter Wahoo and Station Port Angeles are conducting a search of the area.
Sector Puget Sound watch standers received a call around 10:55 a.m. from a Holland America vessel agent reporting a passenger aboard the Statendam, a Netherlands-flagged passenger ship with Holland America, was unaccounted for after the vessel arrived in Seattle this morning.
The missing 65-year-old man, a U.S. citizen, was confirmed aboard the ship by vessel staff when it departed Victoria, British Columbia, at 11 p.m. Sunday.
Coast Guard crews were launched to initially search the vessel's route, but were diverted after Holland America personnel reported a review of shipboard security footage.
Crews conducting the search include an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles, the crew of Coast Guard cutter Blueshark, an 87-foot patrol boat home-ported in Everett, the crew of Coast Guard cutter Wahoo, an 87-patrol boat home-ported in Port Angeles, and a 45-foot response boat-medium crew from Station Port Angeles.
"The Coast Guard is working closely with Holland America staff to locate the missing passenger," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Derik Schaefer, situation unit watch stander at Sector Puget Sound. "Mariners transiting through the area are urged to keep a sharp lookout for any signs of distress and report it to the Coast Guard."
