Mariners have been warned to keep an eye out for an abandoned sail boat seen floating north of the island over the weekend.

An incident report from Bermuda Maritime Operations said that shortly before 6.30pm on Sunday, crew on the cruise ship Insignia spotted an apparently abandoned vessel about 50 miles north northwest of the island.

The report added: “The vessel showed signs of damage and the sails were poorly set, the name S/V Uplace was broadcast on AIS. The passing M/V Genoa was tasked with investigating Uplace further to establish if there is anyone on-board.

“Further research found the 36ft German-registered sailing vessel had been reported on a few occasions since the crew abandoned to a US Coast Guard helicopter in April of this year.”

The report added that a notice to mariners had been put out to caution sailors about the potential hazard.

A notice from the US Coast Guard from April said the ship was abandoned about 340 miles north of Puerto Rico after the couple on board both sustained injuries in 12ft seas.

The couple were safely rescued by the Malta-flagged tanker ship BW Lilac and subsequently picked up by a Coast Guard helicopter.