Cruise ship passenger ‘goes overboard’ as main search launched close to UK metropolis
The cruise ship had been on a solar eclipse trip around Iceland, the Faroes and Shetland and was due to disembark passengers in Scotland at around 11am before a man reportedly went overboard
A man reportedly went overboard on a cruise ship operated by Ambassador Cruise Line(Image: Getty)
A man is feared to have fallen overboard from a cruise ship that has docked in a Scottish city, sparking a large-scale search operation.
The alarm was sounded around 8.30am on Friday, August 21, when emergency services were alerted to a man having plunged into the water approximately 36 nautical miles east of Arbroath. The Ambassador Ambition cruise ship, thought to be the vessel the man was travelling on, had reportedly been on a solar eclipse journey around Iceland, the Faroes and Shetland.
Passengers were scheduled to disembark and return home from Scotland around 11am. However, the ship has now berthed at a Dundee port while frantic efforts are underway to locate the missing man.
The alarm was sounded around 8.30am on Friday(Image: Getty)
An HM Coastguard helicopter and plane have been dispatched to the scene, along with RNLI lifeboats, and Coastguard Rescue Teams. A commercial search and rescue helicopter and several nearby vessels are also lending their assistance.
An HM Coastguard spokesperson stated: “HM Coastguard is coordinating the response to a report made at about 8.35am on 21 August of a man overboard from a passenger vessel in waters about 36 nautical miles east of Arbroath.”, reports the Daily Record.
“An HM Coastguard helicopter and aeroplane have been sent as well as RNLI lifeboats from Anstruther and Broughty Ferry, and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Dundee, Arbroath and St Andrews.
“A commercial search and rescue helicopter and several nearby vessels are assisting with searches. The passenger vessel has berthed at Dundee. Police Scotland has been informed.”
An RNLI spokesperson stated: “All-weather lifeboats from Anstruther and Broughty Ferry RNLI launched shortly after 9.30am today (Friday 21 August) to support HM Coastguard in a search for a missing person overboard from a passenger vessel approximately 36 nautical miles east of Arbroath.”
An Ambassador Cruise Line spokesperson said: “Ambassador follows stringent search-and-rescue protocols in line with international maritime safety standards. We continue to work in close collaboration with the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC), The Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Police Scotland as the investigation continues.
“Ambassador remains committed to the safety and wellbeing of all our guests and crew. As a result of this development, today’s turnaround operation in Dundee was slightly delayed. However, guests due to travel on board Ambition should make their way to the port as per their embarkation schedule.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson commented: “Around 8.55am on Friday, 21 August, 2026, police received a report a man had gone overboard from a cruise ship in the North Sea, 40 nautical miles from Anstruther, Fife.
“A search and rescue operation is currently being carried out by HM Coastguard, but the man remains missing. His next of kin is aware. Police enquiries remain ongoing”.
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