By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew
Dickinson, USS Anchorage Public Affairs
INDIAN OCEAN (NNS) -- San Antonio-class amphibious transport
dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) rendered assistance and provided aid to the
crew of a stranded Sri Lankan-flagged fishing vessel, M/V Lakshan, Nov. 4 at
12:30 p.m. local time.
Watchstanders spotted six mariners aboard the vessel waving articles
of clothing in an attempt to get the attention of the U.S. Navy ship as
Anchorage was transiting through the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The
commanding officer aboard Anchorage, Capt. J.J. Cummings, ordered the dispatch
of a rescue and assistance team, which determined Lakshan had experienced a
crank case explosion, leaving both engines unworkable and beyond at-sea repair.
The fishing vessel had been at sea without power for one day when the fishing
vessel's crew hailed the crew of Anchorage for assistance.
The rescue and assistance team delivered food, water and car
batteries to power the stranded vessel temporarily to the crew of Lakshan. M/V
Beyanara, roughly 165 nautical miles away at the time of Anchorage's arrival on
station, was dispatched for assistance by the fishing vessel's parent company.
Anchorage remained on station until their arrival.
Beyanara arrived the afternoon of Nov. 5, at which point the
crew aboard Beyanara assumed on-scene commander responsibilities from
Anchorage's commanding officer, and is now in the process of towing the vessel
and crew back to land.
"Once our Rescue and Assist Team determined the vessel
was dead in the water and 300 miles from land with no food or water, it was
obvious that the crew was facing a life or death situation," said
Cummings. "Giving them assistance became our number one priority, and we
were not going anywhere until we had full confidence that the crew was safe.
Our Sailors instantly flexed from underway operations to mariner assistance,
and it was a beautiful thing to watch."
"This event stands as testimony to what lengths our
nation will go to help complete strangers and the remarkable professionalism of
the Anchorage Sailors," continued Cummings. "Our bridgewing lookouts,
who were the first to spot their distress signal, literally saved the lives of
these mariners in distress."
Anchorage is assigned to the Essex Amphibious Ready Group,
commanded by Capt. Clint Carroll. The Essex ARG, and embarked 15th Marine
Expeditionary Unit, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and
theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment