Lynn Canal Searched for Cruise Passenger

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

A Coast Guard search was under way today for a woman reported missing from a cruise ship in Lynn Canal early this morning, the Coast Guard reported.

The cruise ship Celebrity Solstice left Juneau at 9:45 p.m. Monday and was headed up Lynn Canal for Skagway when ship officials called the Coast Guard around 3:25 a.m. today to report a 40-year-old passenger had gone overboard.

The cruise ship’s security video captured the woman going overboard around 3 a.m. as the ship sailed through Lynn Canal near Eldred Rock, the Coast Guard said. The passenger’s hometown was not known at press time today.

An Air Station Sitka helicopter that was in Juneau following an emergency medevac flight from Haines was deployed to search for the missing woman. After searching for three hours the helicopter returned to Juneau for refueling at 7:38 a.m. At that time another helicopter took off to continue the search, the Coast Guard said.

A Coast Guard small boat and the Coast Guard cutter Chandeleur, visiting from Valdez, also were sent out to search, the Coast Guard said.