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USNS Richard E. Byrd Returns Fishing Vessel to Kiribati

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090819-10
Release Date: 8/19/2009 4:47:00 PM

From Pacific Partnership Public Affairs

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (NNS) -- U.S. Military Sealift Command underway replenishment ship USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) is returning the fishing vessel and engine to the fishermen from Tabitteuea, Kiribati, who went missing earlier this year and eventually drifted to Honiara.

The fishermen returned home shortly after their arrival, but their boat has been awaiting an opportunity to be returned to Tarawa.

The government of Kiribati requested that Richard E. Byrd transport the fishing vessel from Solomon Islands to Kiribati as part of its transit there in support of Pacific Partnership 2009.

Pacific Partnership works by, with and through partner nations, non-governmental organizations and other U.S. government and international agencies to execute a variety of humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) missions in the Pacific Fleet Area of Responsibility from a ship dedicated to the HCA mission.

For this mission, Byrd has been outfitted with humanitarian civic assistance equipment and supplies and a staff augmented with a robust multi-specialized team of preventive medicine personnel, veterinarians, medical and dental teams and engineering personnel.