Cruise ship passenger vanishes at sea

MIAMI (WSVN) -- The Coast Guard is searching for a 44-year-old man who they believe fell overboard the Carnival Victory off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico.

The man, who was not identified, disappeared after 1 a.m. Tuesday. The cruise ship was 38 miles northeast from the shore of Cozumel when he went missing. The Miami-based cruise line issued the following statement:

"Yesterday evening during a seven-day cruise aboard the Carnival Victory, shortly after the vessel had departed Cozumel, Mexico a 44-year-old male guest was reported missing by a member of his family who had reportedly not seen him on the ship for an extended period of time. 

"A comprehensive ship-wide search was conducted and the vessel's command immediately notified the proper authorities, including U.S. Coast Guard and FBI, as per the company's normal protocol." 

The Carnival Victory departed from Miami on Sunday, on a seven-day Caribbean cruise, which is scheduled to end in Miami on Sunday, April 27.  Its ports of call include Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica, before returning to Miami.

Carnival added that it has activated its CareTeam to assist the family.

The Coast Guard began their search at dawn Wednesday morning.

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