SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Coast Guard and regional partners are searching for an overdue boater in Eastern Caribbean waters between the Virgin Islands and the island of St. Maarten, Thursday.
Missing is Peter Baron, 58, a citizen of Dominica, after he reportedly departed on a voyage from Tortola, British Virgin Islands bound for St. Maarten, Sunday, but he has not arrived at his destination.
Baron reportedly was the sole person aboard a 45-foot white catamaran Ocean Time that he was going to deliver to the vessel's new owner.
Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a call from concerned family reporting Baron overdue, Wednesday night. Watchstanders were able to establish communication with a local maritime agent who reported that one-week prior Baron had departed Tortola bound for St. Maarten aboard the Ocean Time, but that he experienced steering system issues that forced him to return to Tortola. The agent further relayed that Baron performed repairs on the steering system himself before departing again for St. Maarten, Sunday.
Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to search and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and an Enhanced Group Call for vessel traffic in the area to be on the lookout.
Coast Guard assets and regional partners involved in the search:
- Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders
- MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen
- Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft
- Virgin Islands Search and Rescue
- Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
- Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Fort de France
- Rescue Coordination Center Curacao
Anyone with information or knowledge of this case may contact the Sector San Juan at 787-289-2041.
U.S. Coast Guard Puerto Rico crews stands ready to save lives, protect America’s waterways, and support safe maritime activity.
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