Harbour Pilot Falls Overboard While Boarding Cruise Ship In Rough Hawaii Seas

A harbour pilot fell into the sea while attempting to board Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess off the coast of Kauai on 10 February 2026.

He was rescued within minutes by the pilot boat crew and did not appear to be injured. The cruise ship later cancelled its scheduled call at Nawiliwili Harbour due to hazardous sea conditions.

The incident happened as the 3,090-guest vessel was preparing to enter port.

According to passengers on board, the pilot was climbing a rope ladder from a pilot boat positioned alongside the ship when he slipped and fell into the water on the port side.

Eyewitnesses reported that a “man overboard” announcement was made immediately after the fall.

Passengers said the pilot had made several attempts to board in rough conditions before losing his footing. One guest estimated that he fell around 10 to 20 feet away from the ship’s hull rather than directly alongside it.

Crew members on the pilot boat quickly manoeuvred into position and pulled the pilot out of the water.

Videos shared online show him being brought safely back on board the pilot vessel. Observers stated that he did not appear to have suffered any injuries.

 

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One passenger later wrote online that a member of the pilot boat crew had slipped from the ladder into the sea but was safely recovered thanks to the quick response.

The same passenger reportedly praised the ship’s crew for handling the situation calmly and professionally.

Princess Cruises had not issued a public statement about the incident at the time of reporting. Cruise lines usually provide automatic refunds for pre-paid shore excursions when a port call is missed.

The port call was cancelled as Hawaii was facing severe weather. On 8 February, the National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for the east-facing shores of Kauai, warning of dangerous sea conditions.

The advisory stated that strong trade winds were producing breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet, with surf heights forecast between 8 and 12 feet. The warning remained in effect until 6 p.m. on 11 February.

Rough seas can make pilot transfers difficult. During these operations, a small pilot boat must stay close to a much larger ship while the harbour pilot climbs a rope ladder fixed to the vessel’s side.

Swells and shifting winds can cause sudden movement between the two vessels, increasing the risk of slips or falls.

Passengers on board also reported that the ship had been listing by about five degrees for around 20 minutes as it approached the island.

Emerald Princess, a 113,561-gross-tonne cruise ship, departed Los Angeles on 4 February 2026 for a 16-night Hawaii itinerary. Kauai was scheduled to be the first port of call after several days at sea.

After cancelling the Kauai visit, the vessel continued to Maui, where it was scheduled to arrive on 11 February.

The itinerary also includes Hilo and Honolulu, followed by a final stop in Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to Los Angeles on 20 February.

References: cruisehive, luxury cruising

Source: Maritime Shipping News