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Dutch Navy Ship Answers Distress Call at Sea

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060414-19
Release Date: 4/14/2006 1:34:00 PM

By Journalist 3rd Class Bobby Northnagle, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

PERSIAN GULF (NNS) -- Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Amsterdam (A 836) provided assistance to a man suffering from a possible heart attack aboard a German merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea, April 11.

Amsterdam, an auxiliary oiler replenishment ship, coordinated a rendezvous with the German vessel after receiving a distress call and dispatched a helicopter around 2:30 a.m.

"Normally, there are other ships close enough to answer this type of call," said Dutch Lt. Kirsten Savelberg, senior watch officer aboard Amsterdam. "But this time we were the closest vessel with a helicopter."

A Lynx helicopter from French Navy Squadron 34, currently embarked aboard Amsterdam, and a Royal Netherlands Navy doctor picked up the 33-year-old man and transported him to a hospital in the local region. The crew member is currently in stable condition.

Amsterdam is currently serving as the flagship of U.S. Navy Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 50 and is underway along with USS Typhoon (PC 5) and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Wrangell (WPB 1332) conducting maritime security operations (MSO) as part of the Dutch-led Combined Task Force 150.

MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.