U.S. Navy Ship Assists 90 Reported Ecuadorians In Peril
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050628-04
Release Date: 6/28/2005 11:52:00 AM
From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs
PUERTO QUETZAL, Guatemala (NNS) -- Ninety reported Ecuadorian citizens, who were rescued from a distressed vessel in the Eastern Pacific in June, were provided transportation to Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, aboard the U.S. Navy ship that assisted them.
While transiting to El Salvador, USS Rentz (FFG 46) detected the 60-foot vessel proceeding north at slow speed and discovered the boat to be grossly overloaded with 90 reported Ecuadorian citizens. The number of people aboard the small boat made the vessel quite unstable.
The nameless and stateless boat had been at sea for 11 days and had minimal amounts of food and water left. The nameless boat was discovered more than 300 nautical miles from land with a faulty electrical system and was taking on water.
The commanding officer of Rentz declared the boat hazardous to safety of life at sea and began a transfer of the 90 persons. Once safely aboard Rentz, the reported Ecuadorian citizens received food, water and medical attention. Crew members from Rentz took over the controls of the decrepid vessel and, guided by Rentz set sail for Puerto Quetzal, the closest port to return the citizens to safety.
When Rentz entered Puerto Quetzal, the 60-foot fishing vessel was turned over to Guatemalan authorities since its nationality and point of origin could not be determined.
Rentz is a guided-missile frigate home ported in San Diego. The ship has a compliment of 26 officers and 220 crew.
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