A seafarer is reported to have gone missing from a Berge Bulk handysize bulker off the coast of New Zealand.
The Chinese national was last seen on Saturday morning after finishing his shift on board the UK-flag 34,512-dwt Berge Rishiri (built 2017), according to a Maritime New Zealand spokesperson.
“The person failed to report for duty at 4 pm, and Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre was advised,” the regulator added.
Berge Bulk confirmed to TradeWinds that a crew member serving onboard the Berge Rishiri was currently missing.
“The master of Berge Rishiri immediately raised the alarm and activated a thorough search of the vessel,” the Singapore shipowner said.
“With no sign of the missing seafarer, the case became one of a presumed man overboard. The master proceeded to turn the vessel around on a reciprocal course with additional lookouts posted.”
Berge Bulk said all regional maritime authorities and the flag state were notified, and search and rescue operations were carried out but to no avail.
“We are getting in touch with the family of the missing seafarer to provide them with the necessary assistance during this difficult period,” the shipowner said.
“We wish to express our sincere gratitude to all those involved in the search and rescue operations, including Maritime New Zealand and Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand.”
Maritime New Zealand said a cold-water survivability expert engaged by the centre believes there is little chance the man would have survived.
Maritime Union of New Zealand national secretary Craig Harrison said this kind of incident is much more common than people realise.
“There are around 400,000 seafarers working on cargo vessels globally, and official figures show that between 2015 and 2019, 527 were killed at sea, and 509 went missing,” he said.
He also said New Zealand needs to be doing more to protect the welfare of international crews in its waters.
Harrison wants Maritime New Zealand to investigate whether the crew were having adequate rest breaks and whether they were required to secure any cargo while underway on their voyage.
Maritime New Zealand said the incident took place on a foreign-flagged vessel outside of territorial waters, so it was outside of its jurisdiction to investigate.
