The search for a man missing after going overboard from a Carnival cruise ship near Moreton Island on Friday night resumed stretched into a second day at the weekend.

The man, in his 70s, was a passenger on Carnival Splendor, which was sailing from the island towards Sydney.

He was reported overboard north-east of Cape Moreton about 10.30pm on Friday, sparking an “intensive air and sea search involving multiple assets”, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

The passenger was believed to have jumped from Carnival Splendor on Friday night.
In an update on Saturday evening, AMSA said it had suspended the search operation.

“The missing person was not located and AMSA has now released all assets from tasking,” a spokesperson said.

Queensland Police Service said the search and rescue operation resumed on Sunday.

The man’s disappearance followed the death of a 67-year-old Tasmanian woman, also a passenger on the ship, earlier on Friday. The woman had been snorkelling off Moreton Island, and despite attempts to revive her on the beach, she could not be saved.

The two incidents were not believed to be linked.

A Carnival Cruise Line spokeswoman said on Saturday it was helping authorities search for the man, who had apparently climbed over a safety railing and jumped.

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“The male guest was travelling with family, who alerted the ship’s crew of a possible missing person,” the spokeswoman said.

“A review of the CCTV footage confirmed the guest’s action.

“All appropriate authorities have been alerted, and Carnival will assist authorities in their investigation upon the ship’s return to Sydney.

“Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved one.”

A Carnival Splendor passenger said the alert was first raised before 2am, with the captain confirming the incident within the hour.

The passenger said on Saturday a rescue helicopter could be seen searching the waters as the ship remained off Moreton Island.

“We are all safe, but I am disappointed that Carnival were not being upfront that we would be sure to be late to our 6am Sydney arrival tomorrow [Sunday],” they said.

Passengers reported seeing a rescue helicopter searching the waters on Saturday afternoon.
The passenger said that about 3pm, the captain confirmed the ship would be leaving the area, and arrival in Sydney was expected to be 6pm on Sunday instead.

AMSA said it was notified by the cruise ship early on Saturday morning, advising that a person had been lost overboard about 30 kilometres north-east of Moreton Island.

“AMSA is currently co-ordinating the search and rescue operation and has tasked its Cairns and Melbourne-based Challenger jets, five rescue helicopters from around the metropolitan Brisbane area, and six surface vessels into the area, with Queensland Police assisting AMSA with the operation,” a spokeswoman said.

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