Fishing vessel impounded after death of PNG observer

National

A FOREIGN fishing vessel was impounded at the Simpson Harbour in Rabaul, East New Britain while  investigations have started on “an accidental death” of a Papua New Guinean who was a fisheries observer on the vessel, police say.
ENB acting police commander Senior Inspector Joseph Tabali said the Taiwanese vessel.
s identified as MV Tengsang 818.
He said a police investigation team from Port Moresby and National Fisheries Authority officials flew to Rabaul  and impounded the ship.
Tabali has assigned four of his CID officers to assist the investigation team.
He said the death of the man, James Nombaru Jr, from Boiken village in East Sepik and who was a fisheries observer on the vessel, occurred on the early hours of June 25.
The vessel had left Nauru and was on its way to PNG when Nombaru went missing.
Tabali said the deceased had drunk alcohol with his fellow crew members and then went to sleep in his cabin.
He said between 1am and 4am he staggered out to the ship’s deck, stripped naked and left his clothes and mobile phone on the deck, walked out to the edge of the deck and jumped off. He swam for a while then headed towards the ship’s rear but never
resurfaced.
His body was reported missing.