Queensland man charged after trying to throw partner off cruise ship

A Queensland man has pleaded not guilty after being charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to throw his partner overboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Tasmania Police charged the 46-year-old man on Friday after the alleged incident on board the Radiance of the Seas cruise ship.

Police allege the man attempted to throw his partner into the water following an “family violence” altercation about 3.30am on Thursday while the ship was underway. They arrested him after the ship docked in Hobart. 

“Police were called to the scene about 8.30am where the man was arrested,” police said.

The man was detained and appeared at the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon.

According to The Mercury, police alleged the man attempted to throw his partner into the Tasman Sea by grabbing her under the arms from behind on a balcony.

Police said the couple had been arguing in the lead up to the incident. However, the man’s lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. He has been remanded to reappear in the Supreme Court on February 4 next year.

The Radiance of the Seas ship holds 2,501 passengers and is operated between New Zealand and Australia in the southern hemisphere cruise season. It can do up to 25 knots when at sea, which could make finding anyone who goes overboard hazardous.

The ship was in the middle of a five-night return cruise from Sydney to Tasmania when the alleged altercation occurred.

A spokeswoman from the ship’s operator Royal Caribbean told Starts at 60 that security staff on board the ship responded to a “domestic disturbance” between two guests.

“Our security staff responded to the incident and Tasmania Police were notified and attended the ship on arrival in Hobart. Royal Caribbean is co-operating fully with authorities,” they said.

“At Royal Caribbean, the safety and security of our guests and crew is our highest priority. We have a zero tolerance policy to any form of violence or crime onboard our ships.”

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