Unfortunately a cruise ship passenger fell overboard after allegedly climbing and sitting on a cruise ship railing meant to keep passengers safe.

The Strait Times reported on Monday a guest from Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas fell overboard. The ship’s security footage captured the guest  sitting on the ship’s railing at about 4 a.m.

The incident occurred on the last day of a 4-night cruise from Singapore.

The report cited the person is a 64-year-old woman who was traveling with her husband.

The husbands says he woke up in the middle of the night and discovered his wife was not in their cruise cabin.

After notifying the ship’s security, video footage was checked to see that the woman was sitting on the ship’s railing.

The outlet also reports the ship’s overboard detection system alerted that something or someone had fallen overboard the ship.

Royal Caribbean issued a statement regarding the incident, “the ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and launched a search and rescue operation.”

“The shipboard team is working with local authorities and our Care team is now offering assistance and support to the family.”

The danger of being somewhere off limits

The report indicates the woman who fell overboard was a result of being on top of a safety railing, which is not permitted.

Deck railings on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are at least 42-inches high, which comply Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010.

Royal Caribbean’s guest-conduct policy says, “Sitting, standing, laying or climbing on, over or across any exterior or interior railings or other protective barriers, or tampering with ship’s equipment, facilities or systems designed for guest safety is not permitted.”

Breaking the rules can result in being kicked off the ship at the next port.

In past similar incidents, guests have not only been kicked off the ship but also banned for life from the cruise line.

A woman that stood on her balcony railing in 2019 was banned for life.

How cruise ship overboards happen

Media reports of man overboard situations get shared a lot, but if you aren’t familiar with cruises, you may not understand how it could happen.

A 2022 article from The Points Guy points out that cruise ship railings are sufficiently high enough on all decks and balconies to ensure someone does not slip and fall overboard.

“The only way you risk a fall is if you’re standing on furniture to peer over the side or climbing somewhere you’re not supposed to,” the article’s author states.

“It’s not possible for you to trip over a door frame or slip on a wet deck and fall off of a vessel.”

Not being somewhere you’re not supposed to, or doing something you’re not supposed to, is key to safety at sea, “Play by the rules and remain in control of your actions, and you don’t have to worry about inadvertently falling overboard from a cruise ship.”

What happens when someone is overboard?

As is the case with the incident this week on Spectrum of the Seas, the first thing the ship’s crew will do is attempt to ascertain when the man overboard situation occurred.

The ship will also contact local authorities to help conduct a search.

In the United States, the Coast Guard is contact, but since this occurred in Asia, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Singapore was the agency Royal Caribbean contacted to assist in the search.

The ship and local authorities will attempt to search an area based on where the person likely hit the water, and where they are likely to be.