Norfolk-based ship rescues 16 after fishing vessel sinks

By Meredith Kruse
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 7, 2010

The Norfolk-based frigate Elrod rescued 16 Pakistani fishermen who had been adrift in a life raft for more than two days after their skiff sank off the Horn of Africa, the Navy's Fifth Fleet announced Tuesday.

A P-3C Orion aircraft from squadron VP-16 in Djibouti spotted the raft near debris in the eastern Gulf of Aden around noon Monday during a counterpiracy patrol, according to a news release.

An SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter from the Elrod rescued 12 men by air, and when the frigate neared the life raft, a rigid-hull inflatable boat picked up the remaining four men.

Interpreters confirmed that all crew members had been rescued.

The fishing skiff, the Al An Wari, sank in the Gulf of Aden because of cracks in the hull. The skiff had pulled into Yemen on June 29 for repairs, returned to sea Thursday and sank Friday.

The rescued crew members were sent Tuesday to the Pakistani Navy destroyer Babur to be taken home. The Babur is in the region conducting counterpiracy operations as part of a multinational task force.

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Skiff?

Submitted by joes11565 on Tue, 07/06/2010 at 5:35 pm.

Not trying to be too picky but when I think of a "skiff" I'm not picturing something big enough to get 16 fishermen from Pakistan to the Horn of Africa.

Nice job to the FF(ex-G) crew.