A person has died on a fishing vessel off Banks Peninsula this morning.
Photo: Supplied
The crew member was on board a New Zealand registered factory fishing vessel, the San Granit, when the accident happened at about four this morning.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has opened an inquiry into the death.
Captain Tim Burfoot, the chief investigator of accidents, said the circumstances reported to date are that a crew member was fatally injured on the factory deck of the vessel.
Two investigators are being sent to meet the boat when it docks at Prime Port Timaru.
Fishing company Sanford has confirmed the person was a crew member on one of their deepwater factory vessels.
A spokesperson said the company was unable to provide more detail about the situation as facts were still being established.