Police have named the man who died after jumping from the crane in Wellington Harbour on Friday as 33-year-old Jarreth Colquhoun.
鈥淥ur thoughts remain with Jarreth鈥檚 family and friends,鈥 police said in a statement.
Police are assisting the Coroner with inquiries into Colquhoun鈥檚 death.
The trust that owns the crane in Wellington鈥檚 harbour from which two people have jumped off and died in recent years is at a loss for what more can be done to stop people climbing it.
Colquhoun鈥檚 body was recovered from the water on Friday after he jumped from the Hikitia Floating Crane and failed to surface from the water.
Police inquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.
This latest death comes amid wider safety concerns on the capital鈥檚 waterfront after 25-year-old primary school teacher Isaac Levings became separated from his friends after a concert, got lost and accidentally drowned in the harbour last year.
In 2021, the body of 30-year-old Sandy Calkin was found in the water near Queens Wharf. He was last seen by friends on Courtenay Place at about 1am, and CCTV footage showed him walking north on the wharf near Shed 6 a short time later.
A Coroner鈥檚 inquest into Calkin鈥檚 death is scheduled for August.
Wellington City Council鈥檚 work to install safety measures along sections of the waterfront is ongoing and includes balustrades, second-chance barriers, and improved lighting.
Maritime Heritage Trust of Wellington owns the 97-year-old floating crane involved in Friday鈥檚 tragic incident.
Trustee Malcolm McGregor said it was still functioning and could prove useful in the event of a natural disaster like an earthquake.
McGregor said the ship could be awkward to get on and off, a gangway was left on the deck of the ship when not in use, and there were various signs telling people to keep away.
CCTV cameras have also been installed in recent months for security after problems with general mischief and graffiti.
Primary school teacher Isaac Levings became separated from his friends after a concert and accidentally drowned in the harbour last year.
McGregor said the camera footage, which he will give to police, shows one man climbing onto the crane.
The trust and Wellington City Council conducted an extensive review of health and safety around the site in 2015 when a 20-year-old man died jumping from it after a night out.
Various options were considered including mooring the ship away from the wharf so people wouldn鈥檛 be able to gain access to it as easily.
Police search the Wellington Harbour where a person failed to surface after jumping from a crane. Photo / Mark Mitchell
鈥淭hat was technically possible but we decided in the end that it鈥檚 not going to stop a determined person who wants to climb up the top,鈥 McGregor said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like Everest, it鈥檚 a drawcard.鈥
McGregor considered what effect a siren would have to deter people.
鈥淏ut again if someone is determined, a fit man can climb up the top in seven or eight minutes and by the time somebody turns up from police or local security to attend, the person鈥檚 up there and has launched off.鈥
Police inquiries into the circumstances of the incident involving the floating crane are ongoing. Photo / Mark Mitchell
McGregor extended his sympathy to the family of the person who died.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so awful to lose a family member who is not coming home.鈥
Harbourmaster Grant Nalder said the measures already in place only went so far to deter people but it was difficult to know what else could be done.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very hard, without putting a big fence around it and people will still find a way to get around that I鈥檓 sure.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tragic accident. There were warning signs not to do it ... it鈥檚 a very unfortunate result.鈥
Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said the council has had ongoing discussions with the harbourmaster about ways to prevent people from accessing the vessel.
鈥淲e will co-operate with the police and the Coroner over this latest tragedy. Our work to install safety measures along sections of the waterfront is ongoing 鈥 this includes balustrades and second-chance barriers and improved lighting.鈥
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