USS Samuel B. Roberts Rescues Seven Sailors Adrift in Caribbean
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS051117-06
Release Date: 11/17/2005 10:05:00 AM
From USS Samuel B. Roberts Public Affairs
ABOARD USS SAMUEL B ROBERTS (NNS) -- While patrolling in the Caribbean Sea near the Greater Antilles islands, USS Samuel B. Roberts, with its embarked helicopter detachment, rescued seven sailors adrift in a fishing vessel Nov. 14. The sailors had been adrift for three days.
The ship took its action based on the principle of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS): ships that come across another vessel apparently in distress are by law and custom required to lend assistance.
The Venezuelan-flagged fishing vessel, Dona Malula, was found to have a broken propulsion shaft that could not be repaired at sea by Samuel B. Roberts’ Sailors. On further investigation, the vessel was found to also have a 20-inch crack in the hull that was letting in water faster than could be pumped out.
At the request of the ship’s master, the Commanding Officer of Samuel B. Roberts, Cmdr. Bernard M. Gately Jr., directed the ship’s Rescue and Assistance Team to rescue the fishing vessel sailors by transporting them to his own ship for a medical evaluation and further assistance. The ship’s master and his crew then embarked Samuel B. Roberts.
Gately then directed that the ship be reported as a hazard to navigation so no other ship would be endangered if the ship did not sink on its own.
Samuel B. Roberts is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate homeported in Mayport, Fla. She currently has embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 42, also out of Mayport.
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