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USS Preble, HSC-85, HSL-45 Assist in Fishermen Rescue

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060531-12
Release Date: 5/31/2006 3:54:00 PM

By Photographer’s Mate Airman Orlando Ramos, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Navy assisted the Coast Guard in rescuing Sailors from a sinking fishing boat approximately 100 miles southwest of San Diego May 23.

The 75-foot sport fishing boat Legend suffered a broken support beam on the hull, which allowed 30 to 50 gallons of water per minute to enter the vessel. At 7:11 p.m., Legend sent out a distress call, which the Coast Guard received and immediately dispatched two MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopters to the scene.

The Navy also responded by launching two helicopters: a UH-3H from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 85 at Naval Air Station North Island and an SH-60B from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 45 embarked aboard USS Preble (DDG 88), which was at sea conducting routine training. Preble also began making its way toward the scene to assist in the rescue operation.

The Coast Guard’s helicopters arrived to assist with dewatering and hoisted two people from the vessel. The Navy’s helicopters arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and pulled three more people to safety.

“It was very rough sea conditions, the roughest I’ve ever had to deal with, which made it very difficult to perform a rescue,” said Cmdr. Jesse Davis, helicopter pilot on the scene, assigned to HSC-85. “The boat was getting hit by six-foot-high waves and taking 20-degree rolls; so with these conditions, we were only able to hoist three people from the boat. We wanted to get more people out, but we decided it was just too dangerous. We received word that there was a Navy vessel en route and was about 45 minutes away. We chose to stand by and wait for their assistance.”

Preble continued to steam toward Legend’s location. The ship arrived at the scene around 12:41 a.m. and launched two small Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB) with the ship's damage control team to help secure the damage aboard Legend.

“At approximately 10 p.m., I learned that the seas were too rough for the helicopters to rescue the passengers,” said Cmdr. Kevin Hill, commanding officer of Preble. “We prepared our helicopter hangar for the passengers to spend the night. We assumed they would show up wet and hungry, so we had extra clothes standing by along with food. I also had my corpsmen standing by for medical care.”

Twenty-eight passengers were picked up by the RHIBs and transported to Preble. Five members of Legend requested to stay aboard to try and save the vessel by bringing it into the nearest port. Preble and the Coast Guard escorted Legend into port to ensure the remaining crew members’ safety.

“This was a great team effort between Preble, the Coast Guard, Navy helos and Legend’s crew,” said Hill. “I was just glad we could help.”