The mariner reported missing while delivering a catamaran from Tortola to Sint Maarten has been found unharmed following an international search and rescue operation.
According to USVI media outlets, United States Coast Guard officials confirmed on Friday that 58-year-old Dominican national Peter Baron was located aboard the partially disabled 45-foot catamaran, Ocean Time.
A Coast Guard aircraft spotted the vessel on Thursday afternoon approximately 11 miles west of Sint Maarten and alerted French and Dutch rescue teams. A Dutch Coast Guard marine unit later confirmed that Baron was aboard.
Baron was reportedly attempting to steer the catamaran using its emergency tiller after experiencing steering problems.
He had initially left Tortola last Sunday but was forced to turn around when the steering system failed. After reportedly repairing the vessel himself, he departed again to deliver it to its new owners in Sint Maarten.
Baron’s family contacted the Coast Guard on Wednesday night after he failed to arrive as expected.
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The United States Coast Guard and regional partners are searching for 58-year-old Peter Baron, who failed to arrive in St Maarten after leaving Tortola.
Baron, a citizen of Dominica, was alone aboard the 45-foot catamaran Ocean Time, which he was delivering to its new owners more than 81 nautical miles away. His family alerted the Coast Guard on Wednesday night.
According to reports out of the USVI, Baron initially departed Tortola a week earlier but returned after the vessel developed steering system problems. He repaired the issue and departed again on Sunday.
The Coast Guard has deployed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and alerted vessels travelling through the area. Search partners include Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency and rescue coordination centres in Martinique and Curaçao.
As of Thursday afternoon, neither Baron nor Ocean Time has been found.
Anyone with information may contact Coast Guard Sector San Juan at 787-289-2041.
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