Man Dies after Falling Overboard in Tauranga Port

Namura Shipbuilding The body of a man, believed to be a Chinese national, was discovered after he fell overboard a vessel moored in Tauranga Port, according to New Zealand Police Department. The incident occurred in the morning hours of February 27, while the man, working as a deckhand aboard a vessel identified as the bulk carrier MV Mount Hikurangi, was helping to secure a cargo of logs. Local police and coast guard personnel launched a search and rescue mission to find the crew member. Senior Sergeant Karl Konlechner of the Bay of Plenty District Command Centre said that the NZ Navy divers, who were in port at the time of the incident, joined the search efforts. The body of the man was recovered from the bottom of the harbour at around noon the same day. The authorities will conduct an investigation into the incident. World Maritime News contacted the operator of the 2013-built vessel MV Mount Hikurangi, the Hong Kong-based Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd, for confirmation of the incident. The company is yet to reply. World Maritime News Staff