Maritime New Zealand says it investigating an accident that killed a 33-year-old man at Port Nelson on Saturday morning.
Police say the man fell from the deck of a Talley's-owned vessel, the MJ Souza, and into an open hold.
They say his colleagues and the ship's captain rushed to his aid, and police and workmates performed CPR for about 40 minutes, but he died at the scene.
Maritime New Zealand says one of its investigators is on his way to the scene and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission has also been notified.
