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USS Anzio Provides Assistance to Iranian Dhow

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061111-02
Release Date: 11/11/2006 7:49:00 PM

From USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS ANZIO, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Anzio (CG 68) provided assistance to a vessel in distress in the Arabian Sea, approximately 140 miles off the coast of Pakistan, Nov. 10, while conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the area.

The 24 person crew of motor vessel Sinaa, a 35 meter Iranian-flagged dhow from Kubala, Iran, contacted Anzio on bridge-to-bridge radio asking for assistance. The motor vessel’s crew said they needed water and fuel.

Anzio received the call during an underway replenishment (UNREP) and then proceeded toward the position of the dhow.

According to Ensign Scott Szurovy, the junior officer of the deck, their English was broken, but it was clear that they were in some form of distress.

"We heard 'Navy ship, navy ship, can you help. Water. No English.' At first it was thought the dhow might be sinking or have flooding,” said Szurovy.

A 12 person rescue and assistance (R&A) team and one translator boarded the dhow as part of their MSO mission to provide supplies and assistance to the crew. Anzio provided 75 16 ounce bottles of water, 236 gallons of fuel and two days worth of food.

“This was my first time doing anything like this, and it was very exciting, actually a pleasant experience. They were all very appreciative,” said Ensign Patrick King, rescue and assistance officer.

As part of MSO, coalition forces have a long standing tradition of helping mariners in distress by providing medical assistance, engineering assistance, and search and rescue efforts.

“The Anzio crew was happy to provide maritime support, and relieved that the dhow contacted us for help. The dhow crew had been out fishing for 25 days and miscalculated their fuel and water consumption. We were pleased to be able to assist them in the way of fuel, food, and water for about two days to get them home,” said Capt. Perry Bingham, commanding officer of Anzio.

Anzio, part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group, departed Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 3 for a regularly scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations and entered the Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations Oct. 30.

MSO helps to set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and 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.