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USS Decatur renders assistance to Sri Lankan fishermen

09 October 2018

From CTF 70 Public Affairs

The guided-missile destroyer crew assisted seven mariners whose fishing boat was inoperable in the Indian Ocean after an engine malfunction.
INDIAN OCEAN (Oct. 7, 2018) A Sri Lankan fisherman jumps and swims to a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) from the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) after the ship stopped to render assistance to a stranded fishing vessel. After providing food and water, Decatur contacted the Sri Lankan authorities who came and towed the stranded vessel back to port. Decatur is forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
A Sri Lankan fisherman jumps and swims to a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) from USS Decatur (DDG 73), Oct. 7. (U.S. Navy)
INDIAN OCEAN (Oct. 7, 2018) A Sri Lankan fisherman jumps and swims to a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) from the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) after the ship stopped to render assistance to a stranded fishing vessel. After providing food and water, Decatur contacted the Sri Lankan authorities who came and towed the stranded vessel back to port. Decatur is forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
181007-N-FN963-0002
A Sri Lankan fisherman jumps and swims to a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) from USS Decatur (DDG 73), Oct. 7. (U.S. Navy)
Photo By: USS Decatur Crew
VIRIN: 181007-N-FN963-0002

INDIAN OCEAN - The guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) rendered assistance to seven distressed mariners, Oct. 7-8, whose fishing boat had suffered an engine malfunction, rendering the vessel inoperable.

Decatur was conducting a routine patrol Oct. 7 in the waters south of Sri Lanka when watch standers sighted a fishing vessel with fishermen onboard 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 aboard Decatur. The fishermen stated that their vessel had experienced engine trouble and was unable to return to shore.

The Decatur crew immediately offered to provide medical and towing assistance. 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 Oct. 8.

INDIAN OCEAN (Oct. 7, 2018) Sailors bring Sri Lankan fisherman aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) using a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) after the ship stopped to render assistance to a stranded fishing vessel. After providing food and water, Decatur contacted the Sri Lankan authorities who came and towed the stranded vessel back to port.  Decatur is forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
SLIDESHOW | images | 181007-N-FN963-0004 Sailors bring Sri Lankan fishermen aboard USS Decatur (DDG 73). (U.S. Navy)
INDIAN OCEAN (Oct. 7, 2018) Stranded Sri Lankan fisherman signal the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) for assistance. After providing food and water, Decatur contacted the Sri Lankan authorities who came and towed the stranded vessel back to port. Decatur is forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
SLIDESHOW | images | 181007-N-FN963-0001 Stranded Sri Lankan fishermen signal USS Decatur (DDG 73) for assistance. (U.S. Navy)

Decatur is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

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