The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — Coast Guard rescue crews ended their search for a MSC Seaside crewmember at 8 p.m. Wednesday, approximately eight nautical miles southeast of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Missing is Michael M. Majaba, 37, of the Philippines.
Majaba reportedly went overboard from the seventh deck of the Maltese-flagged cruise ship at approximately 1 a.m. Wednesday. The cruise ship crew launched a search and contacted watch standers at the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at approximately 4 a.m. alerting them of the situation.
Coast Guard rescue crews comprised of a C-130 aircraft from Air Station Clearwater, two MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen, a 33-foot special purpose craft-law enforcement response boat from Boat Forces St. Thomas and the Coast Guard cutter Confidence conducted five air and three surface searches covering an area of approximately 1,216 square nautical miles.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends of Majaba and the MSC Seaside crew during this difficult time,” said Capt. Eric King, Sector San Juan commander.
The motor tanker Rose and the Carnival Glory cruise ship also assisted MSC Seaside in the search for Majaba.
The cruise ship was transiting from the Caribbean island of St. Maarten to San Juan, Puerto Rico when the incident took place.
Confidence is a 210-foot medium-endurance cutter home-ported in Port Canaveral, Fla.
