Massive bay search after crewman disappears

Water Police are continuing to search Port Phillip Bay after a crewman in his 30s was reported missing from a commercial ship.

Victoria Police said the vessel left port about 5pm on Thursday, April 30, before its crew requested assistance as the ship approached the heads.

Police were notified about 8.30pm and the State Police Search and Rescue Coordination Centre was deployed to search the South Port Phillip Bay area.

The missing crewman was not located overnight.

A large-scale search continued the following morning, involving the Police Airwing, Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Melbourne-based Challenger rescue aircraft, HEMS Air Ambulance and water vessels.

Volunteer Marine Rescue and Coast Guard crews have also joined the operation, with search efforts focused on southern Port Phillip Bay and the approaches to Port Phillip Heads.

Police have not released the man’s name, nationality or the name of the commercial ship. No further details about how the crewman may have gone missing have been released.

The incident has sparked an extensive air and sea response across one of Victoria’s busiest maritime corridors, used by commercial vessels travelling to and from the ports of Melbourne and Geelong.

Port Phillip Heads, between Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean, is the narrow entrance connecting the bay to Bass Strait. The area is a key passage for ships entering and leaving Port Phillip Bay, and search crews have drawn on aircraft and multiple marine units as authorities continue efforts to locate the man.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen anything relevant in South Port Phillip Bay, near the heads or around vessels moving through the area on Thursday evening to come forward.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Triple Zero (000).