MSC Seascape. Photo: Just dance / Shutterstock.com The FBI has launched an investigation into a suspected homicide aboard the MSC Seascape cruise ship after the vessel docked in Galveston, Texas, on November 9, 2026.
According to a statement released by FBI Houston, its Texas City office is responding to the suspected killing and coordinating the investigation with several federal and local authorities.
FBI. Photo: ShutterstockAn FBI Maritime Liaison Agent based at the agency's Texas City Resident Agency is working alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, and MSC Cruises.
The FBI confirmed that it is leading the response, noting that the agency is the primary federal authority responsible for investigating potential crimes committed on the high seas.
No information has been released about the victim, the circumstances surrounding the suspected homicide, or whether anyone has been taken into custody.
The agency said the investigation remains ongoing and declined to provide further details.
The incident brings renewed attention to the jurisdiction and investigative procedures involved when serious crimes occur aboard cruise ships. Depending on where an incident takes place, federal authorities may work with maritime agencies, local law enforcement and the cruise operator to establish what happened and determine the next steps.
For now, the FBI has not announced a timeline for the investigation or provided additional information about the circumstances aboard the MSC Seascape.
The ship docked in Galveston on November 9, where authorities began coordinating their response.