identified the man as a 41-year-old onboard with his girlfriend.
The company said the man wasapparently trying to climb the ship’s third deck railing when he fell. The statement said that witness interviews indicated “thatthe gentleman had been engaging in horseplay when he fell from the vessel. Two passengers … reported trying to grab at the man to stop him from an athletic leap, scaling up the ship’s railings.”
Mike Glasfeld, owner of Bay State Cruises, expressed his sympathies in a statement.
“The deep sadness that an event like this evokes in us and our crew is indescribable,” Glasfeld said.“Our hearts and blessings are with those close to the gentleman who has gone missing. We are moved beyond words by the emotions of the event. There are no words to adequately describe our sympathies.”
The Coast Guard launched two boat crews and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Grand Isle to assist.
“We are using a variety of Coast Guard, State and local agencies in the search,” said Cmdr. Sean Carroll, the search and rescue mission coordinator at Sector Boston. “This is a significant, multi-agency effort.”
The search has caused at least one other cruise to be canceled. The Greg Hill Foundation, which assists Massachusetts and New Hampshire families in need, used social media to alert ticket holders that its cruise would be rescheduled.
“In light of last night’s events, The Greg Hill Foundation has decided to postpone today’s Summer Boat Cruise,” the foundation said on its Facebook page. “Late in the evening, a passenger aboard the Provincetown II fell overboard and is still missing. We send our thoughts and prayers to his family.”
The foundation said it will reschedule the cruise and tickets thathave already been purchased will be valid for the new date, or a refund will be given.