San Jacinto Assists with Rescue at Sea
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090521-18
Release Date: 5/21/2009 5:50:00 PM
From Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS San Jacinto (CG 56) assisted April 27 with a rescue and recovery effort of a boat in the Chesapeake Bay after the 14-foot aluminum boat capsized drowning one of two men who were fishing on board.
According to Lt. j.g. Tuck Pavlik, San Jacinto's damage control assistant, San Jacinto immediately launched two rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) after a request for assistance went out over the radio airways.
"When we met up with the Coast Guard, they asked us to tow the distressed boat back to shore while they continued search and recovery efforts for the missing fisherman," he said. "While in route to shore, I contacted the Virginia Beach Police Department to coordinate the turn over of the vessel."
Pavlik said although they only towed the boat back to shore, they were ready to assist with rescue and recovery efforts.
"We were ready to participate fully in any capacity with rescue efforts," he said. "On my RHIB, we had a rescue diver and hospital corpsman standing by to render any medical aid if necessary."
Pavlik also said they train regularly for situations such as rescue at sea.
"The week prior we did a lot of RHIB operations practicing taking men out of the water," he said. "When the captain gave to the order to launch the boat, we were dressed out and launched in 10 minutes or less."
Pavlik said his team didn't think they were doing anything special other than doing their job.
"When we arrived on scene we were ready to jump in and provide a rescue diver and medical aid as needed," he said. "We didn't expect to be asked to tow the boat in, but when asked we said of course, we are the Navy and we are ready to do anything."
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