A man who had fallen from a coal carrier that was waiting to enter the Port of Newcastle off the Central Coast on Wednesday is presumed dead after he could not be found.
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A day-long search involving multiple aircraft concluded at sunset.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the decision to call the search off was "based on expert medical advice that the time frame for survival ended at last light".
The man is believed to have gone overboard from the Marshall Islands-flagged Western Marine at about 3.30am, but was not known to be missing until several hours later.
The ship's master notified mainland authorities at about 6.40am and AMSA launched and coordinated the large-scale search.
The ship was 60 kilometres east of Bateau Bay at the time of the incident.
It was waiting to enter the Port of Newcastle and had been scheduled to be berthed at 5.30am Thursday.
AMSA tasked its Challenger jet from Melbourne, along with multiple Sydney-based rescue helicopters and the NSW Water Police, to search an area of about 130 square-kilometres.
The search continued throughout the day with the helicopters refuelling at Terrigal on multiple occasions.
Marine Rescue units along the coast broadcasted alerts for vessels in the area to keep a lookout for the man.
The Western Marine was on route from Korea. It is expected to enter the Port of Newcastle on Thursday.
NSW Police are expected to speak to the crew when the ship arrives. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
