Sailors from the USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 79) provided life-saving assistance to an adrift vessel on July 16 during routine operations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
A helicopter from HSM 79, conducting routine flight operations from USS Bulkeley, spotted individuals signaling distress onboard a vessel that was dead in the water.
The crew reported the adrift vessel back to the destroyer, initiating a rescue operation in coordination with the Joint Rescue Coordination Center.
The nearby merchant ship, Motor Vessel Seaways Sabine, was requested to approach the distressed vessel. Upon arrival, the Seaways Sabine discovered 31 personnel onboard, three of whom required medical attention.
USS Bulkeley’s Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat delivered corpsmen to Seaways Sabine to provide medical assistance. Despite an extended period of CPR, one of the patients could not be saved. The two other patients were stabilised and are being transported to the nearest suitable port by Seaways Sabine.
“In times of crisis, the United States Navy is there to respond and assist whenever possible,” said Cmdr. Arturo Trejo, commanding officer of USS Bulkeley, quoted in the press release.
“I want to thank our crew aboard and the crew aboard Seaways Sabine for their quick action and teamwork in assisting those during a time of need. This incident, while unfortunate, underscores our Navy’s ability to respond to those in need and showcases the readiness and capabilities of our team.”
The Motor Vessel Seaways Sabine will take the rescued personnel to Port Sidi Kurayr, Egypt for further assistance.
I was interested to see that the vessel adrift was carrying migrants and the nearest available port they were taken to by the tanker was Alexandria. My thoughts go to the person who died and the desperation people must feel to pay to get in these unseaworthy boats for the story of a better life in Europe. There has to be a better way than this, starting with global stability. That’s not an explicit aim of the UK Armed Forces, although perhaps it should be.
Props to the USS Bulkeleyl for helping.