SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — U.S. Coast Guard, Dutch Coast Guard and French rescue units rescued an overdue boater aboard the Ocean Time sailing catamaran, Thursday afternoon, approximately 11 nautical miles west of Sint Maarten.
Rescued is Peter Baron, 58, a citizen of Dominica, after a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew found a man aboard a catamaran and observed him using the vessel’s emergency tiller to steer the vessel. This coincided with reports that the Ocean Time experienced a steering casualty prior to the vessel’s voyage from Tortola, British Virgin Islands to Sint Maarten, Sunday.
Following the sighting, responding Dutch Coast Guard and French rescue surface units headed to the scene. Moments thereafter, the Dutch Coast Guard unit arrived on scene and confirmed the vessel was the Ocean Time catamaran and that the person onboard was Baron. The Dutch crew reported no medical concerns, injuries, or issues regarding the seaworthiness of the 45-foot sailing vessel and towed the partially disabled vessel to Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten. Afterwards, the Dutch Coast Guard facilitated communications between Baron and his family to let them know he was safe.
“I am incredibly proud of our Coast Guard servicemembers and commend the phenomenal efforts of our French, Dutch, and Virgin Islands partners, which ensured this mariner’s safe return to his family,” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Coast Guard Search and Rescue mission coordinator. “We remind boaters of the vital importance of having proper communication equipment and emergency signaling before getting underway—it truly can save your life.”
Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a call from concerned family reporting Baron overdue, Wednesday night. Family members relayed that Baron was the sole passenger aboard the Ocean Time catamaran, and that he was intending to deliver the Ocean Time to the vessel’s new owner. A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter launched to search as watchstanders established 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 before departing again for Sint Maarten, Sunday.
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 Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft
- Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Fort de France
- Rescue Coordination Center Curacao
- Dutch Coast Guard marine unit
- French SNS Notre-Dame De La Garoupe
- Virgin Islands Search and Rescue
- Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
- AFRCC
U.S. Coast Guard Puerto Rico crews stands ready to save lives, protect America’s waterways, and support safe maritime activity.
More information about the U.S. Coast Guard can be found at www.uscg.mil. Follow us on X and Instagram, like us on Facebook.