Strong winds loosened the ties of the broken-down cruise ship Carnival Triumph in the pier in Mobile, Alabama, and the staff are looking for a shipyard worker who was thrown overboard by the same blizzards on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service reported winds of between 56 and 104 kilometers per hour (35-65 mph) in the area on Wednesday afternoon.

Two shipyard workers fell into the water when the winds hit, said Steve Huffman, spokesman for the Department of Fire and Rescue in Mobile.

"We recovered one person who was taken to hospital, suffering hypothermia," said Huffman.

Lieutenant-Commander Bill Colclough said the missing man works for BAE Systems, company dedicated to repairing boats on the Mobile.

Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen said the ship was at a drift and leaning against a cargo ship.

Gulliksen authorities reported that two tugs managed to secure the cruise ship around 5:00 pm and take him to the port of Mobile.

Carnival said that all 800 crew aboard Triumph are safe and accounted for. The search continued for a shipyard worker believed blown into the Mobile River around the same time in a separate incident, the Coast Guard said.