Urgent Search Underway in Caribbean After Mayday Call and Red Flare Sighting

A distress call relayed by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Fort de France on February 20, 2024, has sparked a search operation in the Caribbean Sea. The message indicated a red flare was spotted at 16°04'59"N 62°23'39"W at approximately 1:15 UTC.

Authorities are urging all vessels in the vicinity to proceed to the area, maintain a sharp lookout, and report any information to MRCC Fort de France on channel 16. While the nature of the distress remains unclear, the urgency of the Mayday relay and red flare sighting highlight the potential seriousness of the situation.

Here's what we know so far:

A Mayday call was relayed by MRCC Fort de France.
A single red flare was sighted near the coordinates 16°04'59"N 62°23'39"W.
The time of the sighting was approximately 1:15 UTC on February 20, 2024.
MRCC Fort de France is coordinating the search and rescue operation.

What you can do:

If you are in the vicinity of the search area, please proceed there, maintain a sharp lookout, and report any information to MRCC Fort de France on channel 16.
Share this information with other vessels in the area.
Monitor updates from official sources like MRCC Fort de France for further information.

Comments

Distress Alert: Sailing Vessel Kiliki Overdue and in Need of Assistance

UPDATE: The crew members were rescued.

The Dramatic Ordeal of M/V CHRISTINA DEBORA: From Mechanical Failure to Abandonment in the Mid-Atlantic

In June 2025, the standby safety vessel CHRISTINA DEBORA , 38.77 meters in length, experienced a maritime emergency that culminated in its abandonment in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean after drifting powerless for more than two weeks. The vessel had been sold and reflagged to Zanzibar either shortly before or just after leaving South Africa. The Beginning of the Crisis – June 8, 2025 The ordeal began on Sunday, June 8, when CHRISTINA DEBORA , navigating approximately 300 nautical miles northwest of St. Helena Island, suffered a major clutch failure, completely losing propulsion. Seven crew members were onboard at the time. The distress call was officially reported by MRCC NATAL on June 11: the vessel was adrift and urgently required clutch repair parts as well as potable water. Captain Victor managed to contact Johnny Clingham, the administrator of the Facebook group “St Helena’s Talk Group,” who verified the authenticity of the request and informed the wider maritime community. ...

Tragedy in the Mozambique Channel: What Is Known About the Deaths of Sailors Deirdre Sibly and Pascal Mahe

1 December 2025 — International authorities are investigating the deaths of Australian sailor Deirdre Sibly , 67, and French sailor Pascal Mahe , who were found dead aboard their yacht in the Mozambique Channel after issuing a distress signal. Although the circumstances remain unclear, several key facts have been confirmed. Deirdre Sibly, an experienced sailor from Port Lincoln, South Australia, had been at sea for nearly four decades. She had been travelling for several months aboard the French-registered yacht Acteon , accompanied by French sailor Pascal Mahe. The two reportedly met on Réunion Island and had been planning a passage across the Indian Ocean. Their most recent route led them from Réunion towards Durban, South Africa , where Sibly intended to catch a flight back to Australia. The distress signal 🚨 #MAYDAY RELAY 🚨 Sailboat #ACTEON issued a DSC distress call on 26 Nov at 0430 UTC (17°05.00S / 040°05.00E). Two persons onboard, but no signs of life reported since. A...

Sea warnings

Search This Blog