• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Navy Logistics Ship Rescues 10 Iraqis

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080225-02
Release Date: 2/25/2008 11:57:00 AM

From Sealift Logistics Command Central Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) rescued 10 Iraqi citizens from a sinking 250-foot coastal tanker in the central Persian Gulf, Feb. 22.

The Bahrain-based Maritime Liaison Office issued an alert that the North Korean-flagged vessel MV Nadi was sinking and that her crew needed assistance. Nadi, which was flooding, had been operating without power for a week and its crew members were suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.

Sacagawea was conducting logistics operations in the area and arrived on-scene to help shortly after the distress call was issued.

Aircraft from USS Harry S. Truman's (CVN 75) Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 7 picked up the seamen and delivered them to Sacagawea where they were examined by medical officers.

"Sacagawea's crew provided shower facilities, laundered the rescued crew's clothing and provided meals," said Sacagawea's Master, Capt. George McCarthy. "Many crew members also generously donated clothing, outerwear and shoes."

"MV Nadi's captain thanked Sacagawea's crew for 'giving us back our lives,'" said McCarthy.

On Feb. 23, HS 7 transferred the Iraqi mariners to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing dock ship Cardigan Bay (L3009). The next day the mariners were transferred to the Iraqi navy for further transport to their country of origin.

Sacagawea is a U.S. government-owned ship crewed by 124 U.S. civil service mariners.

For more news from Military Sealift Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/MSC/.