Passenger Jumps Off Cruise Ship in Asia, Still Missing

A man onboard a Chinese-built cruise ship intentionally jumped from the vessel on June 29 and remains missing.

The unidentified male was a passenger onboard Adora Magic City, China’s first locally made large cruise vessel. According to China Daily, he climbed over the ship’s railing as it navigated from Shanghai to South Korea’s Jeju Island. 

The incident was only discovered when a crew member reviewed Adora Magic City’s surveillance footage. After learning what happened, the ship immediately went back to its previous location to search the waters for the missing guest.

Adora Magic City, Chinese maritime authorities, the South Korean Coast Guard, and a nearby vessel conducted search and rescue activities for almost 13 hours without results.

The ship eventually resumed its itinerary after being cleared by local officials. Due to the unexpected event, Magic City was forced to cancel its visit to Jeju. Meanwhile, other groups kept looking for the man who jumped after the cruise ship left the area.

Man Overboard Incident Takes Place Shortly after Ship Enters Service

Adora Magic City is Carnival’s first Chinese cruise ship. Carnival Corporation is the minority shareholder, while the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) has a 60% stake. It is the first cruise ship built in China, specifically by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding. 

The 136,201-ton Vista-class vessel can carry up to 5,246 passengers and 1,300 crew members across its 16 decks. It entered service on January 1, 2024, only six months before its first man overboard incident.

Though extensive and coordinated efforts follow each passenger who goes overboard, the act is often fatal.

UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch revealed last year that crew members have less than 11 minutes on average to successfully rescue overboard individuals. This window becomes even smaller when the seas are rough or freezing.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. Please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “HELLO” to 741741 to connect with a trained counselor. Your life matters.