Ultramax diverts to rescue Finnish rower

Finnish ocean rower Jari Saario was taken aboard the Greek Alassia Newship-managed Ultramax dry bulk carrier Cymona Eagle in the Atlantic at about 2.30 am Finnish time on 11 January 2026 after a prolonged period in maritime distress, Helsinki Times reported.

The emergency began when Mr Saario encountered severe weather while rowing alone far from land, with authorities and nearby vessels working to locate him. Mr Saario was rescued from his rowing boat some 3,000 km southwest of South Africa, in a net attached to a winch, and pulled onto the ship’s deck.

Mr Saario had just rowed around Cape Horn, Chile, becoming the first rower known to have done so, and was heading for Cape Town, South Africa, when his vessel was swamped in the Atlantic.

Before his rescue, the Finnish former fireman was a 500-m indoor rowing champion, had paddled 1,275 km from Copenhagen to Helsinki and had solo rowed the Atlantic.