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Ike Rescues Distressed Mariners At Sea

Release No: UNRELEASED Feb. 8, 2016 PRINT | E-MAIL

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 (S/V) 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 Station Opa Locka.

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."

For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit http://www.navy.mil/.

SLIDESHOW | 3 images | 160207-N-FI568-037 160207-N-FI568-037 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 7, 2015) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Tridents of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 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. Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently underway preparing for the upcoming Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor L. Jackson/Released)

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160207-N-FI568-037 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 7, 2015) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Tridents of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 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. Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently underway preparing for the upcoming Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor L. Jackson/Released)

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160207-N-JQ675-041 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 7, 2016) A rescued mariner is flown aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) after her vessel became disabled off the coast of Florida. Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently underway preparing for the upcoming Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class J. E. Veal/Released)

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160207-N-XK202-001 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 7, 2016) A rescued mariner has his vital signs checked in a battle dress station by a hospital corpsman aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) after his vessel became disabled off the coast of Florida. Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently underway preparing for the upcoming Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Osborne/Released)

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