An Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) vessel has rescued a sailor who was in distress in the Pacific Ocean.

The 8,890-teu containership OOCL Utah (built 2015) diverted course after receiving a call from the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue (Amver) system, a voluntary programme administered by the US Coast Guard.

The man called Coast Guard watchstanders after he experienced problems on his sailing vessel Sea Sweeper while he was 1,600 kilometres off the mouth of the Columbia River.