A man is missing feared drowned after going overboard a merchant ship 700 miles east of Bermuda yesterday afternoon.

Harbour Radio said it received a call at 2 p.m. saying the 54-year-old man, whose nationality is not known, went overboard the Ivory Nina.

A United States Coastguard fixed wing C130 flew out from Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, but gave up searching for the man at dusk and headed for Bermuda for refuelling.

A decision will be made this morning to continue the search.