USS Chinook Assists Stranded Iraqi Fishing Dhow

NORTH ARABIAN GULF (June 22, 2009) USS Chinook (PC 9) provided assistance to an Iraqi fishing dhow June 22, in the North Arabian Gulf after it experienced mechanical problems leaving it unable to operate at sea. Coalition forces have a long standing tradition of helping mariners in distress by providing assistance, such as food, water and rescues at sea. Chinook is conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the North Arabian Gulf as part of CTF-IM. MSO help set the conditions for security, which promotes stability and prosperity in the North Arabian Gulf. These operations protect Iraq's sea-based infrastructure. MSO complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt illegal use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. (Official U.S. Navy photo.)

Dispatches from the Front:

USS CHINOOK, At Sea - USS Chinook (PC 9) provided assistance to an Iraqi fishing dhow June 22, in the North Arabian Gulf after it experienced mechanical problems leaving it unable to operate at sea.

U.S. and Iraqi sailors aboard the Al Basra Oil Terminal as part of Combined Task Force Iraqi Maritime (CTF-IM) received a distress call from the fishing dhow Kadem Alabbas approximately 50 miles from the Kuwaiti coast, which had been adrift at sea for three days.

Chinook, which was in port at Kuwait Naval Base (KNB), was dispatched to the scene to assist the Iraqi fishing dhow.

Upon arrival, Chinook's Commanding Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Allen L. Maxwell, Jr., sent his boarding team to evaluate the conditions aboard Kadem Alabbas and establish the level of assistance required.

Once determined repairs to the dhow would need to be completed ashore, Chinook towed Kadem Alabbas approximately 30 miles until it was handed off to an Iraqi Navy Patrol Boat for further transfer to Basra, Iraq, the vessel's home port.

"This is what we do," said Maxwell. "Navy PC's and Iraqi Patrol Boats are very capable platforms and we had an opportunity to display just how flexible we are and how well we work together."

Coalition forces have a long standing tradition of helping mariners in distress by providing assistance, such as food, water and rescues at sea.

"It took some time and patience, but we got it done and also showed these mariners that Coalition ships in the Arabian Gulf are out here to help."

Chinook is conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the North Arabian Gulf as part of CTF-IM. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment and complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment to transport personnel and weapons or serve as a venue for attack.

(Report from a USS Chinook Public Affairs news release.)

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