Fishermen swim for land from Korean vessel

The vessel was anchored 1km off Wellington Harbour. File picture / Mark Mitchell

Crew members of a Korean fishing vessel have attempted to swim ashore in Wellington Harbour.

The squid fishing vessel was anchored 1km off Aotea Wharf when five men made the attempt.

Police picked up two of the men and a fishing boat picked up another two. They were Chinese nationals, Newstalk ZB reported.

Another man, said to be North Korean, was still missing and it was not known if he had made it ashore or drowned.


A sweep of the coastline from Wellington to Petone Surf Boat Club was unsuccessful in locating the man, police said.Harbour master Mike Pryce said it was possible to swim ashore from the vessel's location.

He said: "It depends how good a swimmer you are."

A southerly wind was blowing last night and if the man had headed in the right direction he would have been assisted by that, Mr Price said.

Police and immigration officials are now investigating the incident.

- NEWSTALK ZB, HERALD STAFF