MAERSK KENTUCKY

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Container ship saved 11 distressed fishermen

While underway in the Indian Ocean on May 29, 2016, the "Maersk Kentucky" received a VHF radio distress call from the fishing vessel Al Yasmeen. “Boat is sinking! Taking on water!” The boat with 11 Pakistani fishermen were adrift for ten days at sea. When the call came in from the fishing vessel, the container ship was located approximately six nautical miles away. Captain John O’Boyle was called to the bridge, and after a very broken VHF channel exchange, determined that the vessel could be in distress. The ship was slowly maneuvered towards the sinking fishing vessel. They sighted the fishing vessel and found it to be down by the stern. A small dinghy was launched from the fishing vessel and was paddled toward the container ship. The "Maersk Kentucky" stopped and maintained a position upwind of the fishing vessel. When it was determined that the five men in a small dinghy were not armed or threatening, they were allowed to board the vessel via the pilot ladder. When the container ship was drifting closer to the fishing vessel, three fishermen jumped in the water and began swimming towards the vessel, and also boarded via the pilot ladder. Once the container vessel was alongside, the three remaining fishermen were able to safely leave their sinking boat and board it. Its crew found out that the fishermen had been adrift for ten days, out of food for six days and out of water for four days. Reports with photos: http://www.longisland.com/news/06-13-16/usmma-kings-pointers-rescue-fishermen-adrift-indian-ocean.html?print=1&page=1 http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/kings-point-cadet-alumni-rescue-fisherman-in-indian-ocean-1.11915553