Rarotonga police station Photo: RNZI / Mary Baines
A Cook Islands Police spokesperson says police are unable to release information on how a 22-year-old Fijian man went overboard on an inter island ferry.
The man was a crew member of Lady Moana was travelling to Rarotonga from Mangaia.
The police patrol boat which was on the water for nine hours on Monday, returned to the area again today to resume searching.
Trevor Pitt said because the search is now into its second day there is little hope of finding him alive.
"Since we're into the second day of searching there's very little hope of finding him but we're probably looking at the recovery of the man."
He said police could not release any information regarding the actual incident itself.
"But the police investigators are continuing to look into the persons behaviour on board his movements and the circumstances surrounding that incident."