Police have completed the investigations in the case of a 22-year-old Fiji crew member of cargo vessel Lady Moana who fell overboard during a return voyage from Mangaia in July.

Cook Islands Police media and strategic advisor Trevor Pitt said: “The file on the missing person referred to the Coroner (Justice of the Peace John Whitta) for consideration of next steps.”

Pitt did not elaborate on the outcome of the police investigation.

The missing person Luke Vakayawa reportedly fell overboard the Lady Moana cargo vessel on July 20/21.

The police patrol boat Te Kukupa II joined the search after receiving a distress call from the cargo vessel. The search was unsuccessful and was eventually called off.

Vakayawa arrived in the Cook Islands in March 2023 and began working for the shipping company. Described as shy, he was well-regarded within his family and the wider community. He was also a member of Friends of Fiji Inc. in Rarotonga.

In July, Secretary for the Ministry of Transport, John Hosking, emphasised that all accidents occurring on vessels within Cook Islands waters are taken seriously.

Hosking explained that their investigation focused on the safety of the inter-island cargo vessel and its operation.

He added that the vessel was licenced by the Transport Services Licensing (TSL) and while the investigation was ongoing, the Ministry cannot provide further comment.

Hosking then said the findings would be shared in due course. The report of their investigation has yet to be released.

Lady Moana is owned and operated by Taio Shipping Limited. This is the second incident involving the vessel where someone has gone missing overboard. In September 2019, a seven-year-old boy went missing while returning with his dad from his family's home island of Rakahanga.

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