Passenger overboard a false alarm

A marine search and rescue operation for a cruise ship passenger, believed to have fallen overboard near Sutherland Sound in Fiordland, has been called off.

A New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre spokesman said it was thought a person from the Queen Victoria fell about 11.30am today and it sent two rescue helicopters from Milford Sound and Te Anau to help the ship's crew.

The alarm was raised by the vessel's onboard radar and thermal imaging system, which indicated a person may have gone over board.

"After a muster, all crew and passengers were accounted for, and after reviewing the data from the alarm system, it appears it was just a piece of clothing," the spokesman said.

The Queen Victoria is continuing on its way to Dunedin and was expected to arrive in Port Chalmers on Friday morning.

The Vista-class cruise ship, operated by Cunard Line, and can carry up to 2014 passengers and 900 crew.