Rescue crews were called to English Bay in Vancouver’s West End on Friday over reports of a man overboard from a commercial vessel.
The incident was reported around 9:15 a.m.
A helicopter, three Canadian Coast Guard vessels, a Transport Canada search plane and a Vancouver police marine unit combed the area throughout the day.
A source tells Global News divers were also involved in the search.
The man is believed to have fallen from the bulk carrier Pilatus Venture, registered in Hong Kong.
The search area moved to an area near the Lions Gate Bridge due to the tide later on in the day.
Late Friday night, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre told Global News they had concluded their search, but hadn’t found the man.
The JRCC said the case has now been passed on to the Vancouver Police Department as a missing persons investigation.