Two dead in Northland port log accident

Two people are dead following an accident at Marsden Point. Photo / Northern Advocate

Two Chinese crewmen are dead after becoming pinned by logs and suffocating in a ship's timber hold at Marsden Point wharf near Whangarei this afternoon.

Another crewman is in a serious condition following the accident, which happened about 5pm at Northport, 38km south east of Whangarei, said St John Ambulance action team manager Kathryn Cobb.

The injured man was flown by helicopter to Whangarei Hospital.

Police said details were sketchy but a crew member of the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier TPC Wellington, which was loading logs, became trapped in the hold, a second member of the crew became trapped attempting to rescue him and a third went into the hold after them both.

Northport chief executive Jon Moore told NZPA the deaths were a "terrible" event.

He understood the Chinese crew had entered an enclosed space containing logs. The logs had not been fumigated but the space may have become oxygen depleted through a natural organic process.

The accident was an on board issue and not ship loading or port-related and Maritime New Zealand would further investigate the accident, he said.

Police and the Department of Labour are also investigating.

- NZPA