Overboard cruise passenger Fiordland cup or piece of clothing
A major rescue mission was launched in Fiordland for an overboard passenger - that wasn't.
All passengers and crew have been accounted for aboard the Queen Victoria cruise ship on Thursday.
Maritime NZ media spokesman Vince Cholewa said the ship's master called Maritime NZ at about 1pm to say all passengers and crew had been accounted for.
Earlier today, the ship had radioed Maritime NZ to say a passenger was overboard in Sutherland Sound and a rescue mission was launched.
The ship's electronic monitoring system had been triggered after its thermal imaging showed something had entered the water, Cholewa said.
However, no person had actually gone overboard.
A review of the data suggested an item, such as a cup or a piece of clothing, had gone overboard, which triggered the alarm, he said.
"The ship did all the right things and now they're able to carry on their cruise to Dunedin," he said.
The two helicopters sent out have been stood down.
The rescue mission was launched this morning after the ship's crew radioed Maritime NZ to say a passenger had fallen overboard in Sutherland Sound in Fiordland, about three kilometres from Bell Point.
The Queen Victoria co-ordinated its own search and a helicopter from Milford Helicopters was dispatched to aid the search as "an eye in the sky" to locate the passenger, but it was not equipped with rescue gear, Cholewa said.
A second helicopter from Southern Lakes Helicopters in Te Anau was dispatched carrying rescue gear and paramedics, he said.
A police media spokeswoman said police were aware of the situation but were not involved in the search, and it was in the hands of the Rescue Coordination Centre.
Written by Briar Babington. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.