BOLO SV Ocean Time Tortola BVI to ST. Martin

Aug 14, 2026 | Resolved, Top Articles

Bravo Zulu to USCG San Juan and all other Coast Guard Partners for a well coordinated rescue

U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan

Y͏e͏s͏t͏e͏r͏d͏a͏y͏ ͏a͏t͏ ͏1͏0͏:͏1͏8͏ ͏A͏M͏ #FinalUpdate: Great outcome outcome yesterday during multinational search effort in Eastern Caribbean waters!

U.S. Coast Guard, Dutch Coast Guard and French rescue units searching 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 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.
Following the rescue, 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 for the case.

“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
– U.S. 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.

Broadcast Version for Maritime Nets and other Nets

BOLO SV OCEAN TIME Tortola to St. Martin

USCG San Juan requests assistance in locating SV OCEAN TIME and delivery Captain Peter Baron on passage from Tortola to St. Martin. SV left Tortola on August 9, 2026 and has not  been heard from since. 

SV is a 45 foot Catamaran. Captain Peter Baron is described as a 58-year-old male, 5’8″ tall, and resides in St. Martin.

Keep a sharp lookout for this vessel, assist if possible and report all sightings or further information to the nearest Coast Guard.

Additional Information from USCG San Juan

DATE/TIME INCIDENT: 091030Z AUG 26

DATE/TIME NOTIFICATION: 122311Z AUG 26

VESSEL/FACILITY NAME: 45’ SAILING VESSEL/CATAMARAN – ‘OCEAN TIME’

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: TORTOLA, BVI TO ST. MAARTEN

MISLE: 1525194

INITIAL: RSCSJN received a report of an overdue 45-foot sailing vessel/catamaran, the OCEAN TIME, with one person aboard. The POB is described as a 58-year-old male, 5’8″ tall, who last spoke to his daughter on Sunday, August 9, at 0700, indicating he was transiting from Tortola to Sint Maarten to deliver the vessel to its new owner. RSCSJN received the initial notification from VISAR (Virgin Islands Search and Rescue) and subsequently contacted the subject’s family members (daughter and former spouse) in St. Lucia, who confirmed they last spoke with him on Sunday. The family could not provide technical details on the sailing vessel but forwarded a bill of sale listing the names of the previous and new owners. They also confirmed that the subject’s cell phone has no active cellular carrier subscription and only functions via a Wi-Fi connection.

RSCSJN requested VISAR’s assistance in locating the previous and current owners listed on the bill of sale, both of whom are residents of Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI).

RSCSJN contacted a local maritime agent who had previously hired the subject. The agent confirmed that one week prior, the subject arrived in Tortola from St. Martin. Shortly after departing Tortola aboard the S/V OCEAN TIME bound for St. Martin, the subject noticed steering system anomalies and returned to Tortola, notifying the local handler of the fault. The subject performed the necessary repairs on the steering system himself and departed again for St. Martin on Sunday, August 9. The agent contacted a roommate of the subject who resides aboard a sailboat in St. Martin, who confirmed the subject has not yet arrived. In addition, the agent shared a video of the subject inspecting the 45’ S/V (Attached). RSCSJN has entered the distress phase, issued a UMIB, and relayed all pertinent case data to MRCC Fort-de-France and RCC Curaçao. A UMIB was also initiated via the VHF-FM high-site in Sint Maarten.

 FUTURE PLANS: RSCSJN will coordinate with BVI authorities to obtain additional information from the current and previous owners, execute a SAROPS voyage simulation, and plan for morning search operations with support from Civil Air Patrol (CAP), AIRBOR, and the deployed HC-144 Ocean Sentry. MRCC FDF and RCC Curaçao will conduct port checks at their respective marinas and evaluate air support options for the morning. RSCSJN will also release an EGC, request a “Boat Watch” broadcast and coordinate a social media release through the Sector San Juan Public Affairs Officer. Case pends.