Japanese missing from ship in Southern Ocean named
A Japanese man who is reported missing from a ship in the Southern Ocean has been named.
He is Hajime Shirasaki, 30, who worked as an oiler in the ship's engine room, said a spokesperson for the vessel's operator, Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Limited. A search for Mr Shirasaki was suspended earlier today after rescuers analysed the likelihood of survival.
The Japanese Coastguard reported that a Japanese national had fallen overboard from the whaling vessel Kyoshin Maru No 2, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said.
The man was last seen at 5.30am (NZT) and failed to turn up for a watch at 7am, RCCNZ search and rescue officer, Mike Roberts said. An extensive search of the ship failed to locate him, and the vessel turned back to search for him.
RCCNZ was contacted by the Japanese Coastguard at 12pm and asked to take over coordination of the search.
Mr Roberts said the difficult decision to suspend the search had been made after a careful analysis of the likelihood of survival for the missing man, and the search and rescue options available to them.