By Holly Tregenza and Murray Olds
A man was reported missing from the P&O's Pacific Adventure vessel in the early hours of Monday morning when it was about 10 nautical miles, or 18 kilometres, off Sydney Heads. File photo. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Police remain "hopeful" they will find a man alive after he was reported missing from a cruise ship off the Sydney coast near Bondi early this morning.
The alarm was raised on the P&O vessel Pacific Adventure about 4am (6am NZT) when it was about 10 nautical miles, or 18 kilometres, off Sydney Heads.
The ship was due to dock at White Bay Terminal a few hours later but has been delayed as the search continues.
NSW Police Marine Commander Joseph McNulty said police remain hopeful the man could still be alive, but rough conditions are making the search difficult.
"What is giving us a lot of hope at the moment is that the ship immediately deployed a number of life rings off the ship, and two of those have been recovered but we still haven't recovered the third one," he said.
"There is a person out there hopefully close to a life ring."
He said police are searching a 60 square nautical mile area and using infrared technology to search for the man's heat signature.
A second cruise ship which was in the area has also joined the search.
Both ships tried to lower life boats in to the water but had to abort due to the rough conditions.
"Seas are up four to five metres," McNulty said.
"The timeframe for survival is still within the limits but the water is getting colder.
"We're looking for a person that is alive and that's why we have thrown so many assets at it."
Family being cared for onboard
At least three police vessels and a number of tug boats have been deployed, alongside the Toll rescue helicopter.
In a statement, P&O said there were more than 2,600 guests still on board.
"[The ship] has been onsite searching along with other nearby vessels deployed to the area by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre," it said.
"The family of this guest is being cared for by our onboard team while every effort is being made to find them.
"Pacific Adventure's arrival into White Bay Terminal this morning has been delayed while the search continues."
NSW Police Marine Area Command is leading the coordination of the water search.
- This story was first published by ABC