Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) came to the rescue of distressed mariners at sea, February 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.
A rescued mariner is flown aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower 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 J. E. Veal)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. (U.S. Navy photo by Taylor L. Jackson)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 after his vessel became disabled off the coast of Florida. (U.S. Navy photo by John Osborne)A rescued mariner is flown aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower 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 J. E. Veal)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. (U.S. Navy photo by Taylor L. Jackson)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 after his vessel became disabled off the coast of Florida. (U.S. Navy photo by John Osborne)
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 inherit 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."