Safety practices on foreign fishing vessels should be scrutinised more closely, a report into the death of a crew member on a Korean-registered vessel has recommended.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has completed an investigation into the death of a crew member on a Korean fishing ship last year at Bluff, after he fell from the deck into a cargo load.
Chief investigator Tim Burfoot says that one of the unsafe practices identified is crew members riding on loads suspended by cranes.
The commission says it's asking regulator Maritime New Zealand to consider whether its inspection programme is working, and to increase scrutiny of foreign fishing vessels.
Maritime New Zealand inspects foreign ships on arrival, then every six months. It says the continually reviewed process is adequate.
General manager of maritime services Sharyn Forsyth says they're looking at trends - such as whether particular charterers have lower standards.
