A US Navy destroyer aided seven distressed mariners whose fishing boat had been rendered inoperable after suffering an engine malfunction.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) was conducting a routine patrol in the waters south of Sri Lanka on Sunday when watch standers sighted a fishing vessel with fishermen on board frantically waving rags in the air.
After pulling alongside the fishing vessel in a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB), two of the fishermen were brought onboard Decatur. The fishermen stated that their vessel had experienced engine trouble and was unable to return to shore.
The Decatur crew offered to provide medical and towing assistance, but the fishermen requested for the ship to contact the Sri Lankan authorities. Decatur provided food and water to the fishermen while they waited for the arrival of the Sri Lankan Off-Shore Patrol Ship SLNS Jayesagara (P 601) which arrived Monday and towed the stranded vessel back to port.
-Agencies
