Courtesy Photo | USS DECATUR, At Sea - Decatur crewmembers, aboard a rigid-hull inflatable boat, come...... read more read more
By USS Decatur Public Affairs
ABOARD USS DECATUR, At Sea - USS Decatur (DDG 73), operating as part of the Pakistani"led Combined Task Force 150, came to the aid of a distressed vessel off the coast of Somalia, April 28, and rescued seven Somali fishermen who"d run out of food and supplies.
The fishermen reported they"d been underway for three days when their engine failed. Although they attempted to rig a makeshift sail out of a tarp, the strong current overpowered their efforts and pushed them further out to sea.
On their twelfth day adrift, the fishermen were spotted by a Sea Hawk (SH-60B) helicopter from the USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). The helicopter requested that a nearby dhow assist the mariners in the skiff. Decatur, upon hearing the bridge-to-bridge radio conversation between the helicopter and the dhow, proceeded towards the two vessels to render assistance.
After sending two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) over to the impaired vessel, Decatur's engineers assessed the engine was irreparable. While there, they also learned that the vessel's crew had been underway for 15 days and had exhausted their supplies of food and water. In fact, drifting in the open ocean under the fierce tropical sun, the crew had resorted to drinking seawater for two days.
"When we learned of the condition of the mariners and saw the state of their engine, it became immediately apparent that we were fortunately situated to provide desperately needed assistance," said Decatur's Commanding Officer, Cmdr John Steinberger, originally from Lindenwold, NJ. The fishermen were offered water and fruit and were transported by RHIBs to Decatur.
Decatur's crew provided the fishermen with shower and restroom facilities and fresh clothes. The supply department provided them with meals and drinks; the hospital corpsmen assessed their medical condition and provided minor treatment; and the operations department prepared berthing and relaxation areas.
The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer then rigged a towline to the skiff and proceeded towards land. When Decatur found the skiff, it was 83 nautical miles off the Somali coast. Decatur hoped to find a vessel close in international waters willing to assist the crew into shore.
Early the next morning, with the skiff still in tow, the lookouts spotted a fishing vessel on the horizon. Decatur contacted the vessel with a translator. The fishing boat's crew agreed to take the skiff and its crew into port. Decatur transferred the tow over to the fishing boat, but didn't leave until the crews of both the skiff and the fishing boat had been supplied with plenty of food and water.
As the fishing boat pulled away and turned towards land, the seven fishermen jumped up and exuberantly waved their new Decatur ball caps over their heads, wide grins easily visible from across the mild waves.
"You can't help but feel grateful to have the privilege to assist others in this way," said Steinberger, as he returned the wave with his own cap. "It warms your heart."
Decatur left its San Diego homeport Jan. 4, as part of USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. The destroyer has spent significant time in the waters off the coast of the Horn of Africa, where it has conducted maritime security operations (MSO).
Maritime security operations help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime regime as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2006 09:56 |
| Story ID: | 6181 |
| Location: | ABOARD USS DECATUR, AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 36 |
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