An elderly Melbourne man died after going overboard from the Disney Wonder at 4:30 a.m. on November 22nd.
The incident took place in the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand, during the ship’s five-night voyage starting in Melbourne.
The ship changed course at 4:35 a.m. and began a search and rescue operation. The ship’s crew used thermal imaging and surveillance cameras to try to locate the overboard man. Reports state the search lasted 5 hours but The Cruise Globe shows the Disney Wonder did not resume course until 7.5 hours later.
Unfortunately, the man was not found during the rescue operation and is presumed dead.
Victoria Police are not treating the man’s death as suspicious. A statement from a police spokeswoman says the man jumped suggesting the incident was a suicide. The spokeswoman told local news: “It is understood the man died after he jumped from a cruise liner into waters in the Tasman Sea on Saturday about 4.30am”
The Disney Wonder likely has a man overboard (MOB) system that alerted the ship’s deck given that the ship changed course only several minutes after the man was reported overboard. Furthermore, thermal imaging is commonly part of MOB systems.
Disney Cruise Line is one of the few cruise lines that complies with the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) that requires cruise lines to install MOB systems on their ships. We last wrote how Disney Cruise Line’s MOB system on the Disney Dream likely saved the lives of a father and daughter.
Even with MOB systems, jumping from a cruise ship late at night in open water is extremely dangerous.
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