Coast Guard Suspends Search for Woman Overboard From Nieuw Statendam

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard from Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026, while the ship was sailing in waters north of Cuba. The decision came after an approximately eight-hour search by air and sea that covered roughly 690 square miles, officials said.

Overboard report and onboard announcements

The incident occurred in the early hours of Jan. 1, with the Coast Guard saying it happened about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, an area described as north of Baracoa. Passengers also reported hearing announcements that first asked a missing guest to report to Guest Services, followed by confirmation that the ship was conducting a search operation.

Holland America Line confirmed the overboard in a statement and said the ship’s bridge team and crew initiated emergency procedures and coordinated with federal responders. “We are deeply saddened to confirm that while sailing in waters north of Cuba, a guest on Nieuw Statendam went overboard earlier today,” the cruise line said.

Video review and limited public details

As part of its response, Holland America Line said it reviewed onboard surveillance video. “A review of closed-circuit cameras shows the guest alone on the ship’s third deck appearing to go overboard intentionally,” the company said.

No additional personal details about the woman have been released publicly. The Coast Guard identified the missing person only as a 77-year-old woman.

Search effort, assets deployed, and area covered

After the overboard was identified, Nieuw Statendam reversed course and remained in the area while conducting a repeated search pattern, including a zig-zag pattern described in reports, as it awaited additional response assets. The Coast Guard said ship personnel and Coast Guard crews participated in the operation before it was suspended later the same day pending new information.

• Location: The Coast Guard said the incident occurred about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, in waters north of Cuba, near the area referenced as north of Baracoa.
• Duration and scale: The active search lasted about eight hours and covered roughly 690 square miles, according to Coast Guard updates.
• Air and sea resources: The Coast Guard deployed the cutter William Trump and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater, working alongside the ship’s crew.
• Suspension of the search: Officials said the search was suspended late Thursday, Jan. 1, pending new information, after the day’s air-and-sea effort was completed.

Reports also noted that weather conditions, the vast search area, and currents complicated the effort. As daylight faded, Nieuw Statendam was released from the search area and resumed its voyage.

Itinerary disruption: Key West call canceled

The extended emergency response led to a change in the ship’s itinerary. Holland America Line said Nieuw Statendam canceled its scheduled visit to Key West, Florida, on Jan. 2 and instead planned to spend that day at sea.

The ship was expected to return to Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 3, 2026, as originally scheduled.

Voyage and ship details

Nieuw Statendam was sailing a seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary that departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 27, 2025. The ship visited Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on New Year’s Eve before the incident occurred on Jan. 1.

Nieuw Statendam is a Pinnacle-class cruise ship. Published specifications cited in reports include an overall length of about 975 feet and a beam of about 114.8 feet. Capacity figures were described in two ways: the ship is commonly listed at 2,666 guests at double occupancy, with higher totals possible when all berths are in use, and it can accommodate more than 4,000 guests at full occupancy.

Overboard incidents and how responses typically unfold

Industry group Cruise Lines International Association has said roughly 19 to 25 overboard incidents are reported worldwide each year. Ships can be equipped with safety systems including closed-circuit television and motion sensors intended to help detect and respond quickly, though locating a person in open water can still be difficult due to the time it takes to confirm an incident and safely return to the area, and because winds, waves, and currents can move a person away from the initial location.

Following an overboard report, ship crews typically begin immediate response actions while notifying maritime authorities. Steps described in reports can include public address announcements, verification procedures, and rapid review of security footage to help confirm the time and location. Once an overboard point is identified or narrowed down, the ship may slow, turn, and begin searching while coordinating with responding agencies, sometimes triggering a large-scale air-and-sea operation.

Holland America Line said its family assistance team was supporting the guest’s loved ones as the Coast Guard search remains suspended pending new information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What measures are in place to prevent overboard incidents on cruise ships?

Reports said modern cruise ships can be equipped with safety features such as closed-circuit television cameras and motion sensors, as well as man-overboard detection systems intended to identify and respond to incidents quickly. The accounts also noted that such systems may not detect every case, particularly if conditions or circumstances complicate detection.

How often do overboard incidents occur on cruise ships?

According to Cruise Lines International Association, roughly 19 to 25 overboard incidents are reported worldwide each year.

What typically happens after an overboard report?

The accounts said ship crews typically begin immediate response actions while also notifying the nearest maritime authorities. Those steps can include public address announcements, verification procedures, and rapid review of security footage to confirm the time and location, followed by the ship slowing or turning to begin searching while coordinating with responding agencies.

Did the incident change the ship’s itinerary?

Yes. Because of the extended search effort, Nieuw Statendam’s planned Key West call on Jan. 2 was canceled, but the ship was still expected to return to Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 3 as scheduled.