USS Anzio Provides Assistance to Pakistani Dhow

Courtesy Photo | A Sailor from the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio's (CG 68) rescue and assistance team provides a chart and a weather report to a crew member from the motor vessel Al-Sanaullah, a Pakistani-flagged dhow. After the crew requested assistance from a passing Anzio helicopter, Anzio provided the dhow with water, food and fuel. Anzio is deployed as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG) supporting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the 5th Fleet area of operations. MSO seek to preserve the free and secure use of the world's oceans by legitimate mariners and prevent terrorist from attempting to use the maritime environment as a venue for attack or as a medium to transport personnel, weapons or other material that could support their efforts. (Official U.S. Navy photo by Chief Intelligence Specialist Dan Tocco)  

02.14.2007

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

From USS Anzio Public Affairs

USS ANZIO (CG 68), At Sea - USS Anzio (CG 68) provided assistance to a vessel in distress in the Arabian Sea, on Feb. 13, while conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the 5th Fleet area of operations.

The 13-person crew of motor vessel Al-Sanaullah, a Pakistan-flagged dhow from Pasni, Pakistan, indicated they needed help by waving rags and pointing to gas cans as the Anzio's helicopter flew by approximately 30 nautical miles from the Anzio. The helicopter crew vectored the ship to the dhow.

A rescue and assistance (R&A) team boarded the dhow as part of their MSO mission to provide supplies and assistance to the crew. The vessel was completely out of fuel and had been drifting for 4 days. They provided the crew with approximately 500 gallons of fuel and food that consisted of water, fruits, bread and meat.

The master of the motor vessel indicated to the boarding officer through Seaman Deepak Kumar, a translator and Anzio Sailor, that he was appreciative of the Anzio's aid and kindness in helping his crew and vessel.

"We are very fortunate to have Seaman Kumar as part of the Anzio crew. Speaking Urdu and Hindi, he is an invaluable asset to us in helping our boarding team translate what the needs of the dhow Al-Sanaullah crewmembers were," said Capt. Perry Bingham, commanding officer of the USS Anzio. "Our first service is to those in distress on the sea, and I am ecstatic we were able to support these fishermen from Pakistan and help them to return to their families safely."

As part of MSO, coalition forces have a long standing tradition of helping mariners in distress by providing medical assistance, engineering assistance and search and rescue efforts.

"He (the Al-Sanaullah's master) has never been boarded or had an encounter with a U.S. or coalition warship before and was very pleased with the experience and thankful he now had fuel for his return to Pakistan," said Ensign Patrick King, R&A team boarding officer.

The master of the motor vessel told the Anzio over bridge-to-bridge radio, "We would have died without your assistance." The crew of the dhow waved to the R&A team as they left.

Anzio, part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, departed Naval Station Norfolk on Oct. 3 for a regularly scheduled deployment in support of MSO and entered the Commander, Fifth Fleet area of operations on Oct. 30.

MSO helps to set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or as a transport for personnel, weapons or other material.

• Date Taken: 02.14.2007
• Date Posted: 02.14.2007 12:29
• Story ID: 9136