A man has fallen overboard from one of Tallink's cruise ferries in the Stockholm archipelago.

– We have a man overboard on the Baltic Queen, says Oscar Breher, communications officer at Tallink Silja, to SVT News Stockholm.

The incident occurred shortly after 8:00 a.m. at Fursundsleden near Ljusterö. The ship stopped and a major search operation was launched to find the person who fell overboard.

– It happened at the entrance to Stockholm, says Oscar Breher.

Happened near land

A large number of boats are participating in the search. According to the maritime and air rescue service, the conditions for the search are favorable. There is good visibility and light winds in the area.

– Partly, it is the Baltic Queen itself that is searching, the Coast Guard is participating with a ship, the Swedish Maritime Administration's helicopter from the base in Norrtälje has been called in and the maritime rescue society has three units on site. And since it is believed to have happened quite close to land, the police have been contacted to search with dog patrols, says Tobias Fälth, press contact at the Swedish Maritime Administration.

– We have received a request from the maritime rescue service to assist them, says Åsa Wallentin, press spokesperson for the Stockholm Police.

At 10:00 a.m., the maritime rescue service stated that the cruise ship Baltic Queen continued its journey into Stockholm.

Search operation completed

After four hours of searching, at 11:45 a.m., the case was handed over to the police and the search ended.

– Unfortunately, we have applied without success, says Tobias Fälth, press contact at the Swedish Maritime Administration.

Why are you stopping looking now?

– Since we had an accurate position of where it happened and have searched based on that, there is no possibility of finding anyone alive.

Source: svt.se