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USS Shoup Tows Disabled Dhow to Safety

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080508-10
Release Date: 5/8/2008 2:20:00 PM

By Lt.j.g. Elisabeth Erickson and Lt.j.g Chris Gutierrez, USS Shoup Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- While conducting operations as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, USS Shoup (DDG 86) assisted a disabled dhow, May 6, by towing it from the Gulf of Aden to Al-Mukalla, Yemen.

Dunia, a 15-meter dhow, experienced a serious engine problem, leaving it unable to operate at sea. USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196) who was operating nearby responded on-scene to assist.

Shoup sent several members of the ship's visit, board, search, and seizure team over to secure and inspect the dhow for seaworthiness, provide food and water to the crew, and assess the feasibility of towing the stranded dhow to safety.

Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (SW) John Parkowski, one of Shoup's boat crew members, said Dunia's crew was friendly and grateful for the assistance.

"They were happy to see us," he said. "It was an eye-opening experience, seeing what they had to go through, with no food."

Two of the dhow's crew spoke English and communicated effectively with the boarding team.

Additionally, Shoup's corpsmen provided assistance to two members of the dhow's crew who required minor medical attention.

Shoup took the dhow under tow, and after coordinating with CTF 150, delivered the dhow to the Yemeni Coast Guard, which escorted the dhow into port.

Shoup's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Michael J. Lehman, summed up the event as both providing valuable training for Shoup's crew and supporting CTF 150's mission of Maritime Security Operations.

"I'm extremely pleased with the team effort demonstrated by Shoup over the past two days in providing assistance to the stranded dhow Dunia," Lehman said. "The ship-wide effort was an excellent example of the longstanding tradition of Coalition forces providing assistance to mariners in distress. I'm glad Shoup was in the right place at the right time to help these folks."

For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn72/.