FBI Opens Homicide Probe on MSC Seascape in Galveston
Federal agents are coordinating with local authorities after a death was reported on the Malta-flagged vessel.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
The FBI is investigating a reported homicide on the MSC Seascape, a cruise ship that docked in Galveston, Texas, on Monday. The agency confirmed the probe in a brief post on X, stating that its Texas City office is responding to the incident.
The vessel, which is flagged in Malta, arrived at the port earlier in the day. It has a capacity for more than 5,800 passengers and approximately 1,600 crew members. The ship currently operates Caribbean itineraries.
A maritime liaison agent from the FBI is working alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Galveston Police Department, and Customs and Border Patrol. The cruise line, MSC, is also part of the coordination effort. CBS News Texas contacted the company for further comment, but no additional details were available immediately.
MSC is a privately held company based in Naples, Italy, founded in 1988. It is the world's third-largest cruise operator, managing 23 ships. About half of its fleet is flagged in Panama, while the remainder are flagged in Malta.
The FBI has authority to investigate crimes on vessels within U.S. territorial waters based on factors such as the nationalities of those involved, the vessel's ownership, and its port of embarkation. The agency can pursue cases involving murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, arson, or assaults resulting in serious bodily injury.
The investigation is ongoing as federal and local agencies gather information from the scene.
