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Shortly before noon Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended a search for a 31-year-old man who was last seen near Juneau Monday night.
“We thoroughly searched the area for approximately 11 hours with negative results, so it was decided at that point to suspend any further search,” said Petty Officer Ian Gray of Coast Guard Sector Juneau.
Eurodam, a Holland America Line cruise ship, contacted Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders around 10:45 p.m. on Monday to inform them that a person, who Holland America identified as a “team member” for the Koningsdam, was missing and potentially had gone overboard.
“All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.” the cruise line said in a statement shared with the Empire. “We are offering counseling services to team members and guests who may have been affected by this incident.”
According to a Holland America Line spokesperson, a review of closed-circuit TV footage indicated the man likely went overboard intentionally. U.S. Coast Guard were notified and, with assistance from Eurodam, began a search of the area.
CGS Juneau watchstanders responded by dispatching a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew from Coast Guard Station Juneau at 11:05 p.m. and arrived on scene at approximately 11:15 p.m. CGSJ watchstanders launched an Air Station Sitka MH-60 helicopter aircrew at about 12:03 a.m. The aircrew arrived on scene around 12:40 a.m.
Both Holland America Line ships remained in the area for several hours as the search continued before being released by the Coast Guard in the early hours of the morning.
Though search efforts have since been suspended, Enign Maximilian Carfango, Sector Juneau command center duty officer, said the Coast Guard worked diligently with the assistance of other agencies to locate the crewmember.
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
