The Balmoral was nearing the end of a three-week cruise in the Adriatic A search is being carried out for a passenger who is believed to have fallen overboard a cruise ship in the English Channel.
Brixham Coastguard in Devon received a call for assistance from authorities in France at about 0930 BST.
The missing passenger was on board the Fred Olsen liner Balmoral, which was due to return to Dover, Kent, on Tuesday after a 21-day Adriatic cruise.
A Royal Navy frigate, HMS Westminster, is also taking part in the search.
The Balmoral is the largest liner in the Fred Olson fleet and can carry 1,350 passengers.
A statement released by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said the company was co-operating fully with both the French and British authorities.
When the passenger was reported as missing, staff carried out a thorough search of the ship without success.
A coastguard helicopter from Portland, Dorset, a French coastguard fixed-wing plane and a French warship are also searching the English Channel.
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