Police in Portsmouth, RI are confirming that on the night of December 6, at 6:30pm, Portsmouth Police were alerted that a female passenger had fallen into the water from the Prudence Island Ferry and was now missing. 

The Ferry had departed Bristol at 5:45pm and was on its way to Prudence Island. 

The Coast Guard, along with Bristol, Plymouth and other Law Enforcement Agencies searched area waters for several hours, before darkness, high wind and rough seas hampered the search effort, which was called off at 11pm and resumed Tuesday Morning at 9am. 

While the search was ongoing, members of the Portsmouth Police Detective Division responded to Prudence Island and interviewed the other passengers. 

The vessel was reportedly west of Hog Island in the vicinity of Poppasquash Point when the woman fell from the ferry. 

The woman is a 39-year-old resident of Prudence Island. 

Witnesses reported she was alone on the deck of the vessel when the incident occurred. 

From several witness accounts, it appeared that woman intentionally climbed over the deck railing and into the water.