The U.S. Military Sealift Command has issued the following news release concerning the USNS Sacagawea.February 25, 2008 – Seafarers aboard the Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Sacagawea rescued 10 Iraqi citizens from a sinking 250-foot coastal tanker in the Central Arabian Gulf Friday, Feb. 22.
The Bahrain-based Maritime Liaison Office issued an alert that the North Korean-flagged vessel MV Nadi was sinking and that her crew needed assistance. Nadi, which was actively flooding, had been operating without power for a week and its crew members were suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.
Sacagawea, which was conducting logistics operations in the area, arrived on-scene to help shortly after the distress call was issued.
Aircraft from USS Truman's Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 7 picked up the seamen and delivered them to Sacagawea where they were examined by medical officers.
"Sacagawea's crew provided shower facilities, laundered the rescued crew's clothing and provided meals," said Sacagawea's master Capt. George McCarthy. "Many crew members also generously donated clothing, outerwear and shoes."
"MV Nadi's captain thanked Sacagawea's crew for 'giving us back our lives,'" said Capt. McCarthy.
On Feb. 23 the Iraqi mariners were transferred to the UK's Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing dock ship Cardigan Bay. On Feb. 24 the mariners were transferred to the Iraqi Navy for further transport to their country of origin.
USNS Sacagawea is a U.S. government-owned ship crewed by 124 U.S. civil service mariners.
MSC operates more than 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that deliver combat equipment to troops, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, re-supply Navy ships at sea, and perform a variety of other missions for the Department of Defense.
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