Bataan responds to vessel in distress

USS Bataan (LHD 5)
Courtesy Story

Date: 03.08.2014
Posted: 03.08.2014 11:10
News ID: 121716
Bataan responds to vessel in distress

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark Hays
USS Bataan

AEGEAN SEA — The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) received a distress call at 1029 today.

When Bataan’s Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter arrived on scene the Hellenic Coast Guard was responding to a grounded Turkish Flagged Container Vessel, Yusuf Cepnioglu. The SAR team observed the Turkish vessel listing.

Upon request for assistance, the aircraft lowered a rescue swimmer and recovered two Turkish mariners and returned to Bataan. The rescued mariners were assessed by Bataan’s medical team, and were transferred to the Hellenic Coast Guard.