HM Coastguard swung into action early on Sunday morning (22 October) following reports a member of crew onboard Aidaperla has gone overboard off the coast of Kent.
The vessel was immediately halted while a helicopter, a coastguard aircraft and several lifeboats were dispatched as part of the operation, searching the area near Ramsgate.
The search, though, was called off at 6pm on Sunday whereby the ship, which had been sailing from Hamburg to La Coruna, resumed its journey.
"At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the family of the missing person and his colleagues," a spokesperson for Aida Cruises said. "In addition, we are in close contact with his family and the Aidaperla crew."
