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Show incidents from To Date: 25/06/2026Thursday 25th June, 3:25 am – RCC Bermuda receives an EPIRB alert from the USA registered Newport Bermuda race boat DIREWOLF, alongside at the Dinghy Club in St Georges Harbour. Attempts to contact the crew, including sending staff to the yacht, were unsuccessful. Race officials were not able located the crew and confirm false alert until late afternoon.Date: 25/06/2026Thursday 25th June, 12:38 pm – RCC Bermuda received a U.S.A. registered EPIRB alert from a position within Hamilton Harbour the registration details provided contact telephone numbers of the owner, further investigation showed the EPIRB was onboard the visiting yacht STRELLA, and the false alert had been caused by incorrect testing.Date: 25/06/2026Thursday 25th June, 3:41 pm – The catamaran PRINCESS CHLOE which had recently departed Bermuda for Newport with 5 People onboard reported that they had been struck by lightning. There were no injuries however the engines had stopped and further investigation was needed to check for damage. The yacht returned to Bermuda under her own power to carry out a more detailed assessment and repairs.Date: 23/06/2026Tuesday 23rd June, 4:00 pm – RCC Bermuda received a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) alert in the vicinity of Bermuda close to the AIS position broadcast by the Newport Bermuda race participant, ESCAPADO. Bermuda Radio and Race Control attempted contacting the yacht and determin the 406 MHz beacons carried onboard. As the race yacht approached the finish line they responded to V.H.F. Radio calls and confirmed the PLB was active, the reason for the false alert is unknown.Date: 23/06/2026Tuesday 23rd June, 4:35 pm – The Newport Bermuda race participant DIREWOLF called Bermuda Radio advising that they had lost engines approaching st Georges and were drifting towards rocks. The exact position was uncertain, RCC Bermuda dispatched the Pilot / Rescue boat St David while an unknown local vessel made fast to DIREWOLF and towed her into the channel approaching Town Cut where she anchored. St David continued the tow into St Georges Harbour putting the yacht alongside Market Wharf.Date: 23/06/2026Tuesday 23rd June, 5:41 pm – The Singapore registered product tanker FALCON GALAXY called RCC Bermuda by Satellite phone advising they have sighted what they believe to be and abandoned yacht with a broken mast. The ship got close to the yacht while calling on V.H.F. Radio and sounding the whistle, there was no sign of people onboard. The ship emailed pictures of the yacht but the name / identifying numbers were not known. The photographs were circulated to United States Coast Guard as the vessel was in RCC Boston’s search and rescue region. The origin of the yacht remains unknown.Date: 21/06/2026Sunday 21st June, 12:15 pm – RCC Bermuda received an alert from a U.S.A. registered 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) the distress position was approximately 19 miles North of Bermuda. The inbound Newport Bermuda race boat SPACE MONKEY was in this location but could not be contacted on the telephone numbers / email addresses provided. A second U.S.A. registered PLB was then activated in a similar area, both alerts were thought to be from SPACE MONKEY, the second activation prompted RCC Bermuda to divert the inbound container ship OLEANDER to the distress location and request Bermuda Coast Guard prepare to respond. Race organizers and RCC Bermuda continued to try and contact the yacht, at 12:40 pm Bermuda Radio established communication with the inbound Race Yacht by V.H.F. Radio and found there was no problem onboard, the PLB’s had become wet due to rain but the reason for the two activations is unknown, The OLEANDER and Coast Guard were asked to stand down.Date: 19/06/2026Sunday 19th June, 8:10 pm – The United States Coast Guard, RCC Norfolk, contacted RCC Bermuda to enquire about the sailing vessel THE MANDOLINE which had been reported overdue / not reporting after last being seen at Mertal Beach, S.C. on the 3rd of May 2026. The next port of call was not confirmed but Bermuda had been considered.Date: 17/06/2026Wednesday 17th June, 8:50 am - RCC Bermuda received an alert from a Bermuda programmed 406 MHz ELT, the alert did not decode to an aircraft currently on the Bermuda Registry and no position information was available. The unregistered Beacon alert timed out at 11:45 am. Further investigation found the beacon Hex code was related to an aircraft which left the Bermuda register in 2011 and had been operating in RussiaDate: 16/06/2026Tuesday 16th June, 8:50 pm – The visiting yacht COOINDA called Bermuda Radio on VHF Radio to advise they were returning to Bermuda due to a disabled engine and rigging damage received in a storm, the vessel originally departed Bermuda on the 14th of June for Annapolis with 4 POB. The returning yacht requested a tow into St Georges Harbour. Due to the time of day, it was not possible to provide a commercial tow until the following morning, the yacht waited offshore and was towed in by T.S. Marine at 08:30 on Wednesday morning.Date: 11/06/2026Thursday, 11th June, 4:20pm - Local fishing boat TROUBADOR fishing outside of the reef line Northwest of Eastern Blue Cut reports sighting smoke from a nearby fishing vessel. Enquiries with other nearby vessels and visual checks from the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre are inconclusive as to source and severity of incident. Approximately 15 minutes later the TROUBADOR updates that they have spoken with the other vessel and apparently a distress smoke canister had been activated inadvertently leading to it being thrown overboard where it burned out. No further action required. TROUBADOR is thanked for their vigilance and assistance resolving.Date: 11/06/2026Thursday, 11th June, 1:30am - Sailing vessel BELLATRIX completing the Annapolis to Bermuda Yacht Race reports that her engine will not start after crossing the finish line. Despite RCC Bermuda attempts to arrange a commercial tow without success, it is later agreed for the BELLATRIX to sail into St. George's Harbour where she can anchor until a tow or mechanical assistance can be further arranged. By 11:45am the engine fault is repaired and the yacht motors from St. Georges Harbour to the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.Date: 09/06/2026Tuesday, 9th June, 10:00am - Liberian registered liquid natural gas tanker VENTURE GATOR presently 775 miles Northeast of Bermuda reports that a 28 year old engine room crewmember has collapsed after suffering some type of medical episode. Ship is requesting medical advice. RCC Bermuda puts ship in contact with US Coast Guard Flight Surgeon at RCC Norfolk who begin to assess the unconscious male patient's vital signs and medical history. Patient may potentially have suffered a stroke. Ship diverts making best speed for Bermuda as the closest port. No other medical evacuation options currently exist given distance from Bermuda. Over the next 24 hours the patient receives continuous oxygen and recommended drug treatments using limited onboard medical supplies, however at 8:30am on June 10th the patient becomse unresponsive and despite best efforts by the ship's crew is later reported deceased by the tanker's Captain. The VENTURE GATOR arrives off of St. Davids Head, Bermuda at 10:00am on June 11th where the body of the deceased crewman is transferred to the pilot boat for transport to King Edward Hospital for processing by the Coroner while the shipping company and local agent will make arrangements for repatriation to the Phillipines.
