Bermuda Radio has issued an urgent marine broadcast regarding a potentially missing vessel after finding a large cluster of debris, including fishing gear, in the ocean to the northwest of the island.

At about 9.20am yesterday, the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre received a report from a local fishing vessel regarding the debris — a cooler, buckets and a bag of bait — 1.7 miles east-northeast of Chubb Heads Beacon.

A spokesman for Marops said: “While there have been no marine distress alerts received from vessels offshore, given the unusual sighting, the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard were tasked to further investigate using one of their vessels, while a Marine and Ports Services vessel that was in the vicinity was also diverted to the area to undertake a search for any further sightings of possible distress.

“Bermuda Radio commenced an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast on marine VHF radio channels and at this time the general public ashore are also asked to contact the Bermuda Rescue Co-ordination Centre on 297-1010 regarding any persons known to be offshore in the western marine area who may be considered overdue or are unreachable through normal means.“