An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter undergoes pre-flight checks on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) before departing the ship to rescue distressed mariners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor L. Jackson)
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) — Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) rescued distressed mariners at sea, Feb. 7.
Ike received a distress call via bridge-to-bridge communications from the U.S.-flagged sailing vessel Selket at approximately 7 p.m. The vessel was located 40-miles from Miami, with reports of a broken mast and smoke in the engine room.
Due to the state of the sailing vessel and rough seas, Ike launched a helicopter from embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9 (HSC-9)(Tridents) to rescue the crew of five.
The mariners were medically evaluated aboard Ike before being transferred to U.S. officials at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami.
Assisting mariners in distress is the responsibility of all vessels at sea, even warships.
“Responding to mariners in distress is an inherent obligation of the U.S. Navy; a duty we take very seriously,” said Capt. Paul Spedero Jr., Ike’s commanding officer. “I am glad that we were in the right place at the right time to rescue these mariners. I couldn’t be more proud of the professionalism and performance displayed by the Ike-Trident team.”
