A crew member has been lost overboard from a New Zealand-flagged fishing vessel in the Southern Ocean. The incident occurred late on Sunday night, April 6, 2026.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) confirmed the person was knocked overboard after being struck by a float. The vessel, the FV Amaltal Apollo, was fishing for toothfish at the time of the accident.
TAIC has opened an inquiry into the circumstances of the death. The commission stated the vessel's crew initiated a man overboard procedure immediately and searched for the missing person, but the search was unsuccessful.
Maritime New Zealand has been notified. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by commercial fishing crews, particularly in the remote and harsh conditions of the Southern Ocean.
