A 30-year-old sailor with suspected appendicitis caused his vessel to divert to Bermuda so he could seek treatment.

Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre was notified on Wednesday night of the emergency on board the 10,000 tone bulk carrier MV Century Elkhorn.

The ship was en-route from Québec City in Canada to Puerto Cabello in Venezuela, and located around 240 nautical miles south of Bermuda when the man was taken ill.

It docked in St. George's, the nearest port, around 10 p.m. last night, and continued on its way after the man was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by ambulance.