Body on boat that of man who disappeared year ago

The decomposed body found on board a large fishing boat at Napier last week has been identified as belonging to a fisherman who disappeared more than a year ago, police say.

Last week the crew of ocean-going fishing vessel Pacific Explorer found a decomposed body in the boat's anchor locker, which was likely to have been there for months.

Detective Senior Sergeant Bill Gregory of Napier CIB said today the body had now been identified as Nathan Shane Brown, 33, from Auckland.

Mr Brown was a fisherman on the Pacific Explorer who disappeared on March 29, 2006. His disappearance was reported to police by family members a few days later.

Police believed there were no suspicious circumstances, Mr Gregory said.

It appeared Mr Brown had hidden in the anchor chain locker which is able to be accessed through the small airtight inspection hatch.

Mr Gregory said the vessel had two anchor lockers, but only one was used regularly.

The one the body was found in was a back-up anchor, and had not been used for at least a couple of years.

The crew was doing a routine check of the locker when the body was found.

The locker was about 2.5m high, with an entry hatch measuring about 60cm by 45cm.

Mr Brown's death had now been placed in the hands of the coroner.

- NZPA