Body found after passenger reported overboard from cruise ship

A body has been recovered during a major search and rescue operation for a man who was reported to have fallen overboard from a cruise ship off the east coast of Scotland.

HM Coastguard said a man was reported overboard from the vessel Ambition around 36 nautical miles east of Arbroath, Angus, at around 8.35am on Friday.

Formal identification is yet to take place however police said the family of the man who was reported missing has been informed.

Ambassador Cruise Line had earlier said its ship was en-route from Lerwick to Dundee when a guest could not be found.

The vessel docked in Dundee and guests were allowed to disembark after a thorough ship-wide search was carried out.

A Coastguard helicopter was involved in the search (Gareth Fuller/PA)

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A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.55am on Friday August 21 2026 we received a report that a man had gone overboard from a cruise ship in the North Sea, 40 nautical miles from Anstruther, Fife.

“A search and rescue operation, carried out by police and partner agencies, has been ongoing and a body has been recovered.

“Formal identification is yet to take place however the family of the man who was reported missing has been informed.”

The Coastguard said one of its helicopters and one of its aeroplanes were involved in the search.

A commercial search and rescue helicopter and nearby vessels were also involved.

An Ambassador Cruise Line spokesperson said earlier: “Ambassador follows stringent search-and-rescue protocols in line with international maritime safety standards.

“We continue to work in close collaboration with the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Police Scotland as the investigation continues.

“Ambassador remains committed to the safety and wellbeing of all our guests and crew.

“As a result of this development, today’s turnaround operation in Dundee was slightly delayed.

“However, guests due to travel on board Ambition should make their way to the port as per their embarkation schedule.”

The Ambition recently travelled from Dundee to the Mediterranean on a 19-day solar eclipse cruise and returned to Scotland on August 15.