Search ends for missing crew member who disappeared during around-the-world voyage, report says
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- A crew member from an Ambassador Cruise Line ship was reported missing at sea.
- The ship was sailing from Lisbon to Tilbury, England when the crew member disappeared.
- The search has now been called off, the BBC reported.
The search for a missing cruise ship employee who disappeared during an around-the-world voyage has ended, BBC News reported.
The Indian crew member was reported missing after breakfast on Friday morning while the ship was off the coast of Cape Finisterre, northwestern Spain.
The "Ambience" ship had been sailing from Lisbon to Tilbury, England, on the final leg of a 120-night trip when the employee disappeared.
Staff on the Ambassador Cruise Line ship then carried out a sweep of the vessel before it rerouted and sailed back through its previous route.
The ship is now on its way back to the UK, per the BBC.
An Ambassador Cruise Line spokesperson told the outlet: "Our immediate priority is to provide full support to all crew members closely affected by this incident."
"Ambassador is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all our crew and guests. The search for the missing person is ongoing and remains our utmost priority," they continued.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of our colleague at this difficult time," they added. "Specialist support will be offered to all crew affected by today's events."
Ambassador Cruise Line, which describes itself on its website as "Britain's premium value no-fly cruise line," is based in Purfleet, Essex, and operates from eight regional UK ports.
Ross Klein, an international authority on the cruise ship industry, previously told Business Insider that he believed cruise ship safety rules were outdated, noting that there had been no substantial changes to safety measures since the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010.
"I think legislation has been dreadfully inadequate," he said.
"Going on a ship today would be like going on a ship in 1990. There have been no improvements. Railing heights are the same," he added.
Business Insider has reached out to Ambassador Cruise Line for comment