Bermuda Harbour Radio assisted the US Coast Guard (USCG) through the night after a distress signal was detected from a personal locator beacon.

These beacons are a small device carried by mariners and activated in an

emergency.

A further alert located the distress signal to be 200 nautical miles east of Bermuda.

Further investigation by the USCG revealed the call for help may be coming

from a Catamaran carrying three people from the Madeira Islands to Annapolis, Maryland.

The USCG responded last night a rescue vessel and a C-130 aircraft in an attempt to find the Catamaran party.

The initial distress call came in at 5.20 p.m. local time and five hours later the search was continuing and no further information could be provided.