Attempts to recover a sunken fishing vessel that capsized off the Canterbury coast, losing its three crew, have been hampered by weather and mechanical problems.
The FV Jubilee sent a distress call about 4:30am yesterday, from north of the Rakaia River mouth.
Searchers found an empty life raft and debris during the day, but did not locate the three men that had been aboard the boat.
The police dive squad and members of Coastguard and Canterbury Search and Rescue were en route to the location, where the boat was believed to be sitting on the seabed 40 metres beneath the ocean's surface today.
But the recovery boat suffered mechanical issues, having to return to base, with worsening weather making recovery impossible for the rest of the day.
"Unfortunately there are no other suitable vessels in the area that could take the dive team and their radial sonar onto site before nightfall and the arrival of a predicted weather change later this afternoon," Inspector Craig McKay said.
Police are now considering other recovery options as the weather looks set to worsen in the next few days.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has launched an inquiry into the sinking.
Police have declined to identify the crew, but say they are talking to their families.
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