Woman rescued after 20 hours at sea in Ionian Sea

A 44-year-old woman from El Salvador was rescued alive after spending up to 20 hours in the Ionian Sea, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard. The passenger had gone overboard from Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ship Odyssey of the Seas. She was found conscious and suffering from mild hypothermia.

The Incident and Search

The incident occurred early on Friday, October 9, while the Odyssey of the Seas was sailing from Mykonos to Naples. The Bahamas-flagged ship was approximately 72 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos when the woman entered the water. Unconfirmed reports indicated she grabbed a life preserver and went over the side around 0600. The circumstances of the incident have not been fully reported.

Upon being notified, the cruise ship commenced a search, circling the area. The Hellenic Coast Guard dispatched two patrol boats and a helicopter, while the Hellenic Air Force deployed a plane. Nearby merchant vessels also altered their courses to assist in the search efforts.

Rescue by Containership

The MSC Rossella III, a 2,700 TEU containership sailing from Piraeus to Gioia Tauro, Italy, spotted a flashing light attached to a lifering early on Saturday morning, October 10. The crew alerted the Coast Guard immediately. According to the coast guard, "During the search operations, an overturned circular lifebuoy was initially located, whilst in the early hours of yesterday morning the 44-year-old woman was found conscious inside the lifebuoy by the cargo ship 'MSC Rossella III,' flying the flag of Madeira, which was taking part in the search operations."

A Coast Guard patrol boat located the woman using information from the containership and provided first aid. She was transported to the port of Katakolo and then transferred to a hospital in Pyrgos for medical tests, including a psychiatric evaluation ordered by a local prosecutor.

Statements and Aftermath

A coast guard spokesperson told AFP that the woman said she had jumped because "she wanted to disembark." The Katakolo Port Authority has opened a preliminary investigation.

Royal Caribbean Group issued a statement before the rescue was confirmed, saying, "We immediately launched a search and rescue effort and are working with authorities. Our Care Team is actively providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share."

Passenger accounts shared online indicated that the ship’s captain later confirmed the rescue to those on board. One passenger wrote, "Our cruise captain confirmed she was found alive, is at a mainland hospital and is doing well." Another reported that the woman "walked off on her own accord, she is fine other than hypothermia." The Odyssey of the Seas cancelled its scheduled stop in Naples and continued toward Civitavecchia.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the effectiveness of coordinated maritime search and rescue operations involving cruise lines, coast guards, and commercial vessels. The survival of the passenger after 20 hours in the open sea underscores the critical importance of immediate response and the visibility aids, such as flashing lights on lifebuoys, in locating individuals in distress.

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Sources

• maritime-executive.com: Video: MSC Containership Locates Overboard Cruise Passenger After 20 Hours
• novanews.co.za: Woman rescued after 20 hours at sea following cruise ship jump | NovaNews
• bairdmaritime.com: Cruise passenger rescued after 20 hours in Ionian Sea
• marineinsight.com: Woman Rescued After Nearly 20 Hours At Sea Off Greece After Cruise Ship Overboard Incident
• economictimes.indiatimes.com: Royal Caribbean cruise ship woman missing for nearly a day found alive after 20 hours in sea off Greece - The Economic Times

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.