14 DAY TRIAL // Officials are attempting to find and rescue a man thrown overboard from the Carnival Triumph cruise ship, on Tuesday, April 2.
As we have documented, the Triumph has been the cause of much debate on Carnival Cruises' safety policy as the cruiseliner remained stranded in the Gulf of Mexico this February.
4,000 people were stuck on board for days in unsanitary conditions after a fire in the engine room.
The vessel was towed to Mobile, Alabama for maintenance, but weather conditions prompted it to break free and pushed it towards the Mobile River.
65-year-old security guard John “Buster” Johnson, working at BAE Shipyard and a co-worker were thrown to sea, and only one of them has been rescued so far.
He is still missing, and a search party has been formed, including members of the Coast Guard, Mobile Fire Rescue and USAR as well as a K-9 unit. Coast Guard choppers are being used to scour the area.
Daily Mail details that Johnson's co-worker was rescued on Tuesday, at 2:28 p.m. and incurred only minor injuries.
The Triumph incurred structural damage and a hole in its stern after slamming into other ships docked in the port.
“Due to strong winds in Mobile, Carnival Triumph, which was docked @ Mobile shipyard, broke away from its moorings. US Coast Guard is on site,” company reps have stated on Twitter.
AL.com details that 66 mph (106 kph) winds were registered at Mobile's Brookley Field at the time, with a sustained wind speed averaging at 41 mph (66 kph).
“My understanding is he is classified as missing.
“The family understands under the circumstances that it is very probable that he is deceased. However, (Mr Johnson's wife) asks that the community pray for those looking for her husband to find him and bring him home,” Disaster Relief Chaplain Tony Dickey tells the press.