Man missing after falling from Ship in Tauranga Harbour

Man falls from Ship In Tauranga Port – Police, Navy and Coast Guard involved in Search

A man has fallen overboard from a ship berthed in the port of Tauranga. The man, believed to be a chinese national was a deckhand on the ship. He fell 10m metres from the ship into the harbour and did not resurface.

The incident occurred at 0921hrs Saturday 27th February 2016.

A combined Police and Coast Guard search was commenced but the man was not located.

Fortuitously, an NZ Navy ship was in port at the time and Navy divers have joined the search.

Worksafe NZ have been advised of the incident.

Senior Sergeant Karl Konlechner of the Bay of Plenty District Command Centre states

“This appears to be a tragic accident involving a Chinese deckhand from a ship berthed in the Port. The search has yet to locate the man but divers are now looking for his body. The Police are very grateful for the prompt response from the NZ Navy personnel who were in the port at the time and quickly joined the search.”

This message will be updated when further details become available.

ENDS

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