Crewman killed in cargo mishap on containership in New Zealand’s South Port

Authorities in New Zealand have confirmed the death of a crewmember on a foreign-flagged containership while it was engaged in cargo operations at South Port in Bluff on Wednesday, December 21.

Emergency services were called to the port at around 09:15 local time on Wednesday immediately following the incident on the Liberian-flagged containership MSC Resilient III.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says details are sketchy so far, though his understanding is New Zealand shore-based stevedores had finished work on the vessel when the incident occurred.

The ship had its own cranes but the cargo had been worked by onshore cranes operated by local stevedores.

Initial reports from local workers suggest an incident had occurred when onboard cranes were being moved by crew, adds Harrison.

A spokesperson for shipmanager MSC said the company is fully cooperating with authorities as part of the investigation into the mishap.

MSC Resilient III arrived in Bluff on Monday, December 19, following multiple cargo stops in Australia.