A crew member has tragically died after falling from the Hebridean Princess cruise ship while it was travelling through the Sound of Mull last Tuesday, 16th June. The incident occurred near Oban, with Police Scotland confirming that the man's body was discovered in the water near Corran Esplanade in Oban at around 8:30 pm that evening.
Hebridean Island Cruises, the operator of the luxury small ship, issued a statement expressing profound sadness. They confirmed the death of a crew member following a 'man-overboard' incident and stated that an immediate response was initiated on board, with HM Coastguard being notified. The company is actively supporting the relevant authorities with their enquiries, and the individual's next of kin have been informed. Their thoughts are with the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.
At the time of the incident, there were 38 people on board the Hebridean Princess, which is the flagship vessel for Hebridean Island Cruises, known for its luxury voyages. Police Scotland has confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course. An enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident is currently ongoing.
This incident follows a separate 'man-overboard' event earlier this year in January, where a search was conducted for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard from the Nieuw Statendam cruise ship in the Caribbean Sea on New Year's Day. That vessel, operated by Holland America Line, was approximately 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, when the woman fell into the sea, prompting a search operation by the US Coast Guard and other vessels.