A person has been rescued after going overboard from a ferry in Cook Strait.

StraitNZ Bluebridge spokesman Will Dady confirmed a person overboard sparked deployment of a ship’s rapid emergency vessel and a successful rescue onboard the Livia this morning.

“The person was recovered quickly and safely from the water by crew,“ Dady said.

“We’d like to thank our crew for their quick actions. No further information is available at this time.”

Police say they received a report of a person overboard on a Cook Strait ferry at around 9.50am.

“The person was safely retrieved and is being medically assessed.

“Police are speaking to the person and are making inquiries into the incident.”

Marlborough Harbourmaster Captain Jake Oliver confirmed to the Herald he had heard “rumours” of the incident, but directed further questions to ferry operator Bluebridge.

A passenger onboard told the Herald the Livia was about an hour into its voyage, at the head of the Tory Channel, when five short toots of the ship’s horn rang out and passengers were called to immediately assemble in the cafeteria.

“Myself and my father were outside enjoying the view and a panic[ked] staff member opened the door, rushing everybody inside.

”The boat started making horrific vibration noises so everyone was quite panicked that something bad had happened to the boat itself. We weren’t aware that this was bow thrusters trying to turn the boat around as fast as they could."

The passenger said they then spotted an orange boat travelling to collect a “naked man” out of the water and “at about the same time there was an announcement made that there was a man overboard”.

”We watched them recover the man alive and pull him onto the boat."

The passenger said about five minutes later a further announcement was made about the man overboard, saying “he had been recovered and we were going to travel onwards to Wellington at best speed”.

The passenger reported having mixed emotions after the morning’s “terrifying” events.

“It was a really nice relief for us to realise that the boat wasn’t sinking, but it was also sad to know there was someone overboard. And then it was quite a relief for us to see that they did pull him out of the water.”

Location data supplied by marinetraffic.com reports the Livia is currently docked in Wellington, arriving at 10.42am after departing Picton at 07.48.

Location data supplied by marinetraffic.com reports the Livia is currently docked in Wellington, arriving at 10:42am after departing Picton at 07:48. Photo / Screenshot

The Livia started Cook Strait service in July 2025. Built in 2008, the ferry can transport 500 passengers per sailing.

Last month a person went overboard from an Interislander ferry during a nighttime sailing.

Wellington District Commander Superintendent Penny Gifford said police were advised of the missing man at 2.20am on March 31.

Ferry crew realised “some time after” the person went overboard, at which point they notified police.

CCTV camera footage from the Kaiārahi ferry confirmed the man went into the water just after 11pm – about two hours after the ship left Picton.