A Florida man is now facing federal criminal charges after his failed fourth attempt to use a floating hamster wheel-esque device to traverse the ocean was thwarted by the Coast Guard.

Reza Baluchi, 51, had attempted to use the device, referred to in court documents as a “Hydro Pod” craft, to cross the ocean. He is accused of obstructing the boarding of his vessel, and violating a “Captain of the Port” order.

In 2015, Mr. Baluchi was served such an order by the Coast Guard Seventh District Commander, which encompasses Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

That order mandated that Mr. Baluchi clear future attempts to travel using the craft with the Coast Guard, and to employ a support craft.

The Hydro Pod’s paddles are spun by running, and buoys surround the two ends of the wire cage in which Mr. Baluchi was running to help keep it afloat, as can be seen in a picture taken of the craft and posted on Facebook by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in 2021.

While Mr. Baluchi was trying to reach New York in 2021, his most recent voyage was attempting to cross the Atlantic to London, according to Coast Guard Investigative Services Special Agent Michael Perez’s testimony in a criminal affidavit.

On Aug. 26, 2023, as the Coast Guard was preparing for Hurricane Franklin, one of their boats spotted the vessel 70 nautical miles east of Tybee Island, Georgia. Inside was Mr. Baluchi.

Mr. Baluchi told the Coast Guard that he had Florida registration for the vessel but could not locate it, and told them of his aim to cross the Atlantic. The Coast Guard determined his trip was not safe.

“Based on the condition of the vessel — which was afloat as a result of wiring and buoys — USCG officers determined Baluchi was conducting a manifestly unsafe voyage,” Agent Perez’s testimony reads.

When Coast Guard personnel approached the Hydro Pod and told Mr. Baluchi to disembark the craft, Mr. Baluchi said that he had a 12-inch knife and would kill himself if officers tried to remove him by force, according to the affidavit.

On Aug. 27, when the Coast Guard again tried to get Mr. Baluchi to leave, he brandished two knives and repeated his threat to harm himself, adding that he would blow the vessel up.

While Coast Guard officers believed him at first because he was holding wires, he would tell them upon their third attempt on Aug. 28 that there was no bomb.

The third attempt saw a second boat of Coast Guard personnel accompany the first, attempting to give Mr. Baluchi food, water and warnings about Hurricane Franklin, as well as entice him off the Hydro Pod. Mr. Baluchi again refused.

The fourth attempt on Aug. 29 was successful. Mr. Baluchi was brought ashore on Friday.

The three previous attempts to use the Hydro Pod also failed. His first try, in 2014, ended with a rescue near St. Augustine, Florida; his second effort in 2016 resulted in rescue near Jupiter, Florida, and his third attempt in 2021 led to Flagler County deputies finding him north of St. Augustine, according to WOFL-TV.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.