A body has been recovered from the North Sea after a passenger was reported to have gone overboard from a cruise ship off the coast of Scotland.

Police Scotland received a report at around 8.55am on Friday, 21 August, that a man had gone overboard from the cruise ship Ambition approximately 40 nautical miles from Anstruther, Fife.

A major search and rescue operation was launched involving police, the Coastguard and RNLI crews.

The ship had been returning from a cruise around Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Shetland and was due to dock in Dundee, where more than 1,000 passengers and crew were on board.

Passengers preparing to disembark were asked to remain on the vessel while searches were carried out.

RNLI lifeboats from Anstruther and Broughty Ferry joined the operation, alongside Coastguard Rescue Teams from Dundee, Arbroath and St Andrews.

A body was subsequently recovered from the water during the afternoon.

Formal identification has not yet taken place, but the family of the man who had been reported missing has been informed.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.55am on Friday, 21 August, 2026, we received a report that a man had gone overboard from a cruise ship in the North Sea, 40 nautical miles from Anstruther, Fife.

“A search and rescue operation, carried out by police and partner agencies, has been ongoing and a body has been recovered.

“Formal identification is yet to take place however the family of the man who was reported missing has been informed.”

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.