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Sigmund Ropich a 19-year-old vacationing with friends, went overboard on the Wonder of the Seas cruise ship on Tuesday night. His sister Savannah Ropich is worried authorities will stop searching for him.

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Wonder of the Seas

Sigmund fell into the ocean from the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean’s 230,000-ton Wonder of the Seas. 

He went overboard two days into its seven-day sail which departed from Port Canaveral, Florida. And was off the coast of Cuba when the tragedy occurred. 

The company advertises that “Everything is a big deal on the boldest and biggest ship in the world, Wonder of the Seas®. This is a larger-than-life, island-hopping adventure with epic thrills for all ages.”

Teen on vacation

Savannah Ropich described her sibling, Sigmund Ropich, as a "really great kid." Sigmund is a college student who got "good grades," never got in "trouble," and loved to hang out with his friends. 

“He was on the ship for vacation," Savannah said. “And he's "known for being a kind, reserved, humble kid. Always cool, calm, and collected."

His pals aboard the Wonder of the Seas are "grieving," she said. 

"The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities," a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean previously said. 

The rep also said the cruise line had been working with the US Coast Guard. However, the Coast Guard said it was not involved in the case. And that the Cuban Border Guard is responsible for coordinating the operation because the incident happened in Cuban territorial seas.

According to his family, there is still no sign of him. 

"We were told by the Cuban officials that they are done searching in the ocean. They are continuing only on the coast and land. I have a strong feeling they're going to end this search," Savannah claims. 

She says her family has been "praying hourly day and night" for Sigmund to be found. 

"We are very hopeful if they open [the] search back in the ocean," Savannah said. "We need them to open it again."

Savannah said the family is desperate for information. Royal Caribbean has not told the family how long the ship's crew searched for her brother. 

Technology that protects not installed

"I ask that they take matters like this seriously," Savannah said in an email. "Install man overboard systems, respond ASAP when someone is yelling 'Oscar, Oscar, Oscar' Be CLEAR when communicating WHO is searching for our boy."

The latest available Industry Data Report of 2009 to 2019 said that 19 people die every year from falling off cruise ships. In the last 90 days there have been public reports that 5 people (including Sigmund) have gone overboard.

As of 2010, cruise ships have been required by law to install technology to help prevent overboard deaths.

But to date the US Coast Guard isn't enforcing the requirements or inspecting ships for the technology.