Police search for three fishermen who abandoned boat with dead crewman

The boat carrying the dead crewman arrived at port in Bluff on Monday afternoon. Image / Google

A police search for three crew members who fled a fishing vessel which pulled into Bluff on Monday with a dead crewman on board continues.

The vessel left port around 3pm this afternoon without the missing crew members. Police are continuing their search for the men and have been assisting other authorities to search the port area.

Detective Sergeant Dave Kennelly said the crew member died over a week ago, on November 20. He died from injuries obtained during an incident on board.

However, the vessel only arrived at South Port, Bluff around 2pm yesterday.

The man was a Chinese national.

Kennelly said police are still looking for three missing crewman who absconded off the vessel overnight.

"This incident occurred in the Southern Ocean, within international waters, but New Zealand is the closest country so we have the obligation to investigate", Kennelly said.

"Police have an obligation to the coroner to investigate all deaths that occur within the coroner's jurisdiction."

Kennelly said it wasn't a criminal investigation.

"This has been reported to police. We are working with the local port authority to locate the individuals, who are believed to still be within the port," he said.

Fairfax reported five people were swept overboard while chipping ice off a funnel in the Southern Ocean.