Update 11am: 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 10 metres from the ship into the harbour and did not resurface. The incident occurred at 9.21am today.

Boats out searching for a person who has fallen into the water and gone missing. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Bay of Plenty Police District Command Centre Senior Sergeant Karl Konlechner says a combined Police and Coastguard search was commenced but the man was not located.

Fortuitously, a New Zealand Navy ship was in port at the time and Navy divers have joined the search.

Worksafe New Zealand have been advised of the incident.

'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 New Zealand Navy personnel who were in the port at the time and quickly joined the search.”

Earlier 10.30am:

A flotilla of boats are now at the scene of where a man has fallen off a wharf in the Port of Tauranga and gone missing.

It is understood a dive squad are at the scene and will begin searching in the area where the man, believed to be a port worker, fell in.

Earlier 10.15am:

Emergency services are rushing to the Port of Tauranga after reports of a person falling off a berth and is now missing.

Reports indicate the incident happen about 9.20am this morning near Berth 9 in the port and Coastguard and the Harbour Masters have been alerted.

A reporter at the scene says boats are searching around the logging ship Mount Hikurangi. Another witness called SunLive to say police are at both ends of the jetty. The witness says it was a port worker who had fallen into the water and the person was fully clothed.

More information as it comes to hand.


Photo: Maurice Swinton.