The US Coast Guard yesterday suspended the search for a woman feared lost at sea from a Bermuda-bound cruise ship.

The passenger fell overboard at 7.50 p.m. on Sunday — less than four hours after the Norwegian Dawn departed Manhattan.

Petty Officer Christopher Evanson of the US Coast Guard Fifth District at Portsmouth, Virginia, said the search was suspended at 4 p.m. yesterday.

"We suspended the search at 4 p.m. due to unfavourable weather conditions and based on the negative response on previous searches," he said.

The ship was off the New Jersey coast, 45 miles north-east of Atlantic City, when the incident happened. Despite an immediate search and rescue operation, the 46-year-old woman could not be traced.

At 8.21 p.m. the cruise liner notified the US Coast Guard and a helicopter was despatched from Atlantic City at 9 p.m. on Sunday. A crew scoured the area from 9.43 p.m. to 10.53 p.m. and a second helicopter crew from Cape Cod then resumed the search from 12.05 a.m. At 3.05 a.m. however, it was forced to return to base due to bad weather.

The US Coast Guard said that winds of more than 50 mph and heavy rain hampered further search efforts yesterday. The woman has not yet been named. Norwegian Cruise Line spokeswoman AnneMarie Mathews said: "Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of the guest during this difficult time."

The Norwegian Dawn proceeded on its itinerary at midnight on Sunday, and is expected to arrive in Bermuda tomorrow.