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Search for cruise ship passenger feared to have fallen overboard

BBC MS Ambition cruise ship sits docked in a body of waterBBC
The MS Ambition docked in Dundee on Friday

A major search has been launched for a passenger feared to have fallen from a cruise ship docked in Dundee.

Ambassador Cruise Lines said the captain of the MS Ambition raised the alarm after a man was reported missing before it arrived in the city from Lerwick earlier.

Lifeboats and coastguard crews, alongside aerial support, have been dispatched as part of the search.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said the man's next of kin were aware and inquiries were ongoing.

BBC Scotland News understands that the passenger's luggage was still onboard and his bed had not been slept in.

One passenger said that tannoy announcements had repeatedly called the name of a specific passenger on Friday morning.

The alarm was raised onboard the ship at about 08:35, roughly 36 nautical miles from Arbroath.

They were then told a passenger was missing.

Ambassador Cruise Lines A general view of the MS Ambition taken from Ambassador Cruise LinesAmbassador Cruise Lines
The MS Ambition was previously chartered by the Scottish government to provide temporary housing for Ukrainian refugees

Those onboard were initially delayed from being allowed to leave the ship, but were eventually permitted to disembark at about 11:30.

The ship docked in Dundee after a two-week tour of Shetland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

Coastguard aircraft from as far afield as Prestwick and Carlisle have been scrambled to assist in the search alongside a "commercial" search and rescue helicopter.

Lifeboat crews from Anstruther and Broughty Ferry and Coastguard rescue teams from Dundee, Arbroath and St Andrews are also involved, with support from nearby vessels.

A spokesperson for Ambassador said it was following "stringent search and rescue protocols" and was working with the coastguard and police.

They added: "Ambassador remains committed to the safety and wellbeing of all our guests and crew."

Forth Ports, which manages the Port of Dundee, said: "We have been informed of an issue on board the Ambition cruise ship while at sea.

"The vessel is currently berthed in Dundee and we are liaising with the ship and its owner."

The MS Ambition was previously chartered by the Scottish government to provide temporary housing for Ukrainian refugees on the River Clyde.