US Navy rescues Lankan fishermen

Seven fishermen aboard the fishing vessel ‘Suma Baba-03’ were rescued by the US Navy, 130 nautical miles off Galle last Sunday (07th) and subsequently handed over to Sri Lankan Navy on the (09th). 

The fishing vessel had left the Galle harbour on 03rd October and suffered engine failure at sea. A US Navy guided missile destroyer, the USS Decatur (DDG73) which was sailing in close passage had observed the distressed trawler with the crew frantically waving rags to get attention. The destroyer dispatched a rigid-hull inflatable boat to assist the distressed vessel and  two of the fishermen were brought aboard. The USS Decatur had offered to provide medical and towing assistance to the vessel. At the fishermens' request, Decatur has reported the incident to the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center (MRCC) in Colombo. The Navy deployed SLNS Jayasagara from the Southern Naval Command  and the trawler was safely towed to the Galle harbour and the crew transferred back ashore. 

The rescue by the USS Decatur comes days after days after being confronted by a Chinese warship while on a freedom-of-navigation mission near Gaven Reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

By Asiri Fernando - Pix Courtesy Sri Lanka Navy and US Navy 

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