Harbour Radio has initiated an urgent search for a 45-foot boat that left Bermuda one week ago bound for Rhode Island and did not reach its destination.

There are two people aboard the missing Canadian vessel called the Vailima .

It is a dark blue, 45-foot ketchrig that left St. George's harbour on April 29.

"It left Bermuda last weekend for Newport and is currently unreported,'' a Harbour Radio spokesman said yesterday.

Meanwhile, authorities are continuing their search for the source of a distress beacon believed to have originated some 350 miles south east of Bermuda.

Although some debris -- bits and pieces of Styrofoam, a fishing float and an orange fishing ball -- was found near the area, there was no sign of the vessel that sent out the distress signal.

The United States Coast Guard sent a C-130 aircraft from San Juan to locate the source of the signal.

Then three merchant vessels diverted from their normal routes across the Atlantic and joined the search all day on Saturday.

Another Coast Guard aircraft from Elizabeth City, New Jersey also joined the search team after refuelling in Bermuda.

The merchant vessels were released from the search on Saturday but four more ships, an aircraft and a Coast Guard cutter, picked up the search yesterday.

Those same vessels will continue to search today.

Meantime, Marine Police escorted a 40-foot yacht back to the Island on Saturday morning after it ran into difficulty.

The sole occupant was unable to call for help because there were no radios on board. Consequently, he had to wave from the vessel to attract attention.

Fortunately, a reserve constable saw the yacht called the Tao off Warwick Long Bay around eight o'clock and alerted the Marine Police.

The Tao was the subject of a massive search last November. The vessel had no radios on board at that time either.

In another incident on Saturday, a local vessel, the Debbie Anne , ran into difficulties off the North Shore near Cable and Wireless around 2.20 p.m.

Marine Police were able to tow the boat safely into Flatts.

Similarly, another local fishing vessel the Echo became disabled off North Shore.

A Marine and Ports vessel the St. David was able to tow the vessel into Ferry Reach around 6 p.m.

The Cable and Wireless vessel Sir Eric Sharpe 's launch encountered difficulties off the West End on Saturday evening. It was towed safely back into Dockyard.

The British Sailing vessel Suzy reported taking in water some 12 to 13 miles east of Bermuda.

A motor yacht, the Maldine which was on its way to Bermuda at the same time, diverted to the Suzy and towed her into St. George's. Both vessels arrived around midnight on Saturday.

On Sunday the Marine Police towed a 47-foot American sailing vessel, the Loilita II into St. George's harbour after she encountered difficulties.