Man dies after falling from ship in Tauranga

A 35-year-old Chinese seaman is dead after falling from his ship and into the water in Tauranga Harbour yesterday evening.

Police were called to the Tauranga Wharf about 5.30pm after a Chinese man fell from the side of a logging ship.

The man was pulled out of the water about 15 minutes later, senior sergeant Carl Purcell said.

CPR was administered and unsuccessful attempts were made to resuscitate him before ambulance staff arrived and took over.

The cause of death will not be determined until results of a post mortem examination are completed.

The man was a worker on board the logging ship Green Hope, which arrived in Tauranga Port about two days ago, Port of Tauranga operations manager Nigel Drake said.

The ship was due to leave at 5pm tonight, bound for Himeji, Japan, but it is unclear whether it will maintain this schedule, Mr Drake said.

Mr Drake said the man's body was recovered from the water by his workmates.

Police and the Department of Labour are investigating the incident.

The man's name will not be released until relatives have been advised.