A sailor who set out from Bermuda was rescued by the crew of an orange juice tanker when the boat was found on fire south of the island.

According to an incident report from the Department of Marine and Ports Services, the US Coast Guard in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contacted RCC Bermuda last Friday about an unregistered satellite distress beacon, known as an EPIRB.

The beacon had reportedly been activated about 400 miles south of Bermuda, within San Juan’s area of responsibility.

“Based upon the RCC Bermuda database for visiting yachts, the EPIRB was determined to be registered to the Polish sailing vessel Poesterd, a 43-foot sloop which left Bermuda on December 2 with one person on board,” the report said.

“RCC Bermuda was able to send RCC San Juan detailed vessel, crew and safety equipment information, which led to them diverting a nearby merchant vessel to the satellite beacon distress position as there was no other means of long-range communications.”

At 10.30am last Friday, the Orange Ocean, a Liberian-registered orange juice tanker, arrived on the scene to find the Poesterd on fire and sinking.

“The ship launched their fast-rescue craft and transferred the yacht's skipper, a Polish national, from the burning yacht,” the incident report said.

“The single-handed sailor was uninjured and remained aboard the ship as she continued to her next port of call in Santos, Brazil.”

The US Coast Guard identified the sailor as Kirill Vladimirovich Mikhaylov, a 53-year-old resident of St Kitts & Nevis, who was travelling to Sint Maarten when disaster struck.

Adam Johns, the US Coast Guard search-and-rescue mission co-ordinator for the case, said: “The meticulous co-ordination and communication between Coast Guard Sector San Juan watch standers and the Orange Ocean crew played a crucial role in saving the life of this fortunate boater from the perils at sea.

“This case shows the deep gratitude we have for our Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue merchant vessels at sea as well as the importance of having the proper emergency equipment when navigating the high seas such as the EPIRB aboard the sailing vessel.

“Great work to all involved and we are glad we could bring Mr Mikhaylov to safety.”