The U.S. Military Sealift Command has issued the following news release. The USNS Kanawha is crewed by members of the SIU Government Services Division.USNS Kanawha helps rescue dhow crew in Gulf of Aden
Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha assisted the crew of a ship in distress in the Gulf of Aden, May 4.
Dunia, a 15-meter dhow with a crew of 10, experienced a serious engine problem, leaving it unable to operate at sea. Kanawha, which was nearby, responded.
Kanawha engineers went aboard the dhow to troubleshoot the problem. Once they determined repairs would need to be completed ashore, Combined Task Force 150 sent their nearest ship, USS Shoup, to tow the dhow toward Yemeni territorial waters, close to Al Mukala, where a tugboat was waiting to bring the small boat pierside.
The dhow arrived in Yemeni territorial waters May 6.
Kanawha and Shoup also provided the dhow’s crew with food, water and medical support during the two days.
“The crew of the Kanawha responded in the finest tradition of the merchant marine to come to the aid of mariners in need,” said Capt. James Dolan, the ship’s civil service master. “Many of the crew volunteered to man the rescue boats that delivered food and water to the crew of the Dunia.”
Coalition forces have a longstanding tradition of helping mariners in distress by providing medical assistance, engineering assistance as well as search and rescue.
MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships at sea, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and conduct specialized missions.
###
Printer Friendly Page