Pilot Falls Into Sea During Emerald Princess Arrival In Kauai Amid High Surf

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A harbour pilot was rescued from the sea on 10th February 2026 after falling while attempting to board a Princess Cruises ship off the coast of Kauai, forcing the vessel to cancel its scheduled port call.

Princess Cruise Hawaii

The incident occurred as Emerald Princess, which carries 3,090 guests, was preparing to enter Nawiliwili Harbor. 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.

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

Eyewitnesses shared that the pilot had made several attempts to board in challenging conditions before losing his footing. One passenger said he fell an estimated 10 to 20 feet away from the ship’s hull rather than directly alongside it.

Crew members aboard the pilot vessel responded swiftly, manoeuvring the boat into position and retrieving the man from the water within minutes. Video footage circulating online shows the pilot being pulled back on board the pilot boat. He did not appear to have sustained any injuries.

One guest wrote, “A member of the pilot boat slipped off the ladder into the sea. Thanks to God for a quick recovery and a well-trained crew he is healthy and fine… I am amazed how well-trained and efficient the Emerald staff handled everything quickly and professionally. Well-done crew.”

At the time of writing, Princess Cruises has not issued a public statement regarding the incident. However, cruise lines typically provide automatic refunds for pre-paid shore excursions when a port call is missed.

Emerald Princess, a 113,561-gross-ton ship, departed Los Angeles on 4th February 2026 for a 16-night Hawaii sailing. Kauai was due to be the first port of call following several days at sea.

High Surf Advisory In Place

The cancelled visit came as Hawaii experienced severe weather conditions. On 8th February, the National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for east-facing shores of Kauai, warning of hazardous sea conditions.

According to the advisory, strong trade winds were generating breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet, with surf heights forecast between 8 and 12 feet. The warning was extended through to 6 p.m. on 11th February.

Rough seas can significantly complicate pilot transfers. In such manoeuvres, a small pilot boat must maintain precise positioning alongside a much larger cruise ship while the harbour pilot climbs a rope ladder secured to the vessel’s side. Swells and shifting winds can cause unpredictable movement between the two vessels, increasing the risk of slips or falls.

Passengers on board Emerald Princess reported that the ship had been listing by around five degrees as it approached the island. One guest commented, “The weather has been insane here in Hawaii. Our ship has been listing about 5 degrees for about 20 minutes.”

Following the aborted call in Kauai, the ship continued to Maui, where it was scheduled to arrive on 11th February. The itinerary also includes stops in Hilo and Honolulu before a final call in Ensenada, Mexico, ahead of the vessel’s planned return to Los Angeles on 20th February.

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