Three men have been rescued after getting stranded aboard a stray vessel off Bermuda’s eastern coast for almost 36 hours.

A duty officer with the Department of Marine and Ports services said the trio were transported onto a bulk carrier, Genco Bourgogne, and are now on their way to Baltimore, Maryland.

The yacht, Zion, has been left to drift.

Bermuda Maritime Operations received a distress call from the French sailing vessel from 48 miles east-northeast of the island in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Bermudian officials briefed the US Coast Guard’s Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Norfolk, Virginia, and warned them of a possible need for a search aircraft due to the frigid weather, rough seas and powerful gusts.

Genco Bourgogne, which was 160 miles southeast of Bermuda, registered with the Marshall Islands, was also alerted as the nearest vessel.

She diverted her course to Zion, but took about 24 hours to arrive as the ship only travelled at about six knots (7mph).

A US Coast Guard HC-144 CASA aircraft arrived on scene from Air Station Cape Cod at about 1.15pm that day and found the trio of sailors in good condition.

Rescue crew attempted to drop two VHF radios onto the yacht via parachute but were unsuccessful and eventually had to leave at 3.05pm to refuel in Bermuda.

Eventually, Genco Bourgogne arrived on the scene at about 2.30pm today and rescued the three.

The yacht was described as a white sloop that was believed to have a life raft and dinghy.