At approximately 10:30 a.m. today (Nov. 25) Oak Bay Sea Rescue discovered an unmanned vessel floating loose approximately 10 meters offshore of Penzance Street near the Chinese Cemetery in Oak Bay.
The vessel was towed into the Oak Bay Marina and turned over to the Oak Bay Police department. An immediate search was conducted by Search and Rescue along the shoreline and around the area of where the vessel was recovered, but no one was spotted.
The Oak Bay Police would like to confirm the safety of the owner of the vessel and is asking the public for assistance.
The recovered vessel is an open, white 18-foot Boston Whaler. The owner of the boat is thought to be 46-year-old Wayne Allan Orr.
"We believe he is the owner, but there were no identifying marks on the boat - it's not registered," said Oak Bay Sgt. David McMillan. "It's a matter of following a trail. There was personal property inside the boat. ... We are just hoping he didn't fall off into the water."
If anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of Orr they are asked to contact the Oak Bay Police at 250-592-2424.