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San Antonio Responds to Call for Help

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060511-18
Release Date: 5/11/2006 6:39:00 PM

By Journalist 3rd Class Annariza Wenthe, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Atlantic

USS SAN ANTONIO, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) answered a distress call May 9 from a disabled vessel while transiting back to its homeport of Norfolk, Va.

Denise Marie, a recreational fishing boat, lost power due to a malfunctioning battery in the engine compartment.

San Antonio’s rescue team identified the problem and provided support to the fishing boat by returning a new battery to her.

Lt. Tim Mead, officer of the deck during the rescue effort, said the crew performed as he expected.

“San Antonio’s crew did an excellent job,” said Mead. “They did what they were trained to do. They got the ship aligned with the wind, and the RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) assisted the disabled vessel without incident.”

This rescue was the first of its kind for the ship, which was commissioned into the fleet only four months ago.

“Once I learned about the rescue,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jack Bustillos, a Sailor aboard San Antonio, “I thought this was a great way to expose our ship and show that we’re ready and capable to respond to any situation while at sea, whether it be a military or civilian incident.”

Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Daron Williams said these rescue teams, normally comprised of line handlers, boat captain, coxswain, bow hook, an engineer, a corpsman, and a search and rescue member, are trained to jump at a moment’s notice.

When you hear the word,” said Williams, “it doesn’t matter - drill or whatever, we’re on top of things and ready to perform.”

Although San Antonio does not yet have any visit, board, search and seizure qualified teams, there are a few personnel aboard who are boat officer qualified.

San Antonio is currently underway after a weeklong visit to Port Everglades, Fla., for Fleet Week USA 2006.