The State Medical Examiner’s Office is performing on autopsy today on the body of a man found floating in Portland Harbor Monday night.

Police said they believe they know the man’s identity and should be able to notify family members once the autopsy is complete. They do not suspect foul play.

The body was found pinned under a dock owned by Three Sons Lobster & Fish on the Great Maine Wharf off Commercial Street.

12:05 a.m.

PORTLAND — Police say the death of an unidentified man whose body was found floating under a dock off Commercial Street on Monday night does not appear to be suspicious.

Capt. Ted Ross said the body was pinned under a floating dock owned by Three Sons Lobster & Fish, which is located on the Great Maine Wharf behind the Dry Dock Restaurant and Tavern.

City firefighters used a chain saw to remove planks from the dock before lifting the body onto the city’s fireboat for transport to Ocean Gateway Terminal, and then to the state Medical Examiner’s Office.

Ross said a Three Sons employee told co-workers earlier in the day that he thought he saw a body floating under the dock, but authorities weren’t notified until 6:30 p.m. Ross said he didn’t know the reason for the delay.

A large crowd, many of them diners at Dry Dock, Gilbert’s Chowder House and the Porthole Restaurant, watched from nearby wharves as the body was removed around 8 p.m.

Several men who identified themselves as transients came to the area Monday night to find out whether they knew the victim.

But Ross said the victim’s identity may not be known for some time.

The entire area is under video surveillance, according to signs posted on the property.

 

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at: dhoey@pressherald.com