A US oil tanker had to divert to Bermuda yesterday to seek hospital treatment for a crew member.

The Overseas Maremar, registered at 28,400 tons, was on its way from Corpus Christi, Texas, to the Mediterranean when the 65-year-old man became sick.

A spokesman for the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre said: "At around noon we were advised by the vessel that they were diverting to Bermuda to land a sick crew person for hospital treatment."

He said the US citizen was suffering from an "internal disorder" but could not provide further details.

"They landed the crew person at 4.30 p.m. and a pilot boat brought him ashore," said the spokesman.

The 182 metre-long US vessel, which is transporting a cargo of jet fuel, left Bermuda at 5.15 p.m. The crew member was last night being treated at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.