Almotamar.net - Two US Navy vessels, USNS Kanawaha and USS Shoup, responded to a ship in distress in the Gulf of Aden on 4 May and towed the boat to Yemeni territorial waters, where it arrived May 6, so the dhow could be repaired.

Public Affairs Office at the American embassy in Sana’a said Dunia, a 15-metre dhow experienced serious engine problem leaving it unable to operate at sea. Kanawaha, who was operating nearby, responded on-scene to assist.

In a pre4ss release almotamar.net obtained a copy of it, the Public Affairs Office at the US embassy in Sana’a said Kanawaha engineers went aboard the dhow to troubleshoot the problem once determined repairs would need to be completed ashore, Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 sent their nearest ship, USS Shoup, to tow the dhow towards Yemeni territorial waters, close to Al-Mukala where a Yemeni tug boat was waiting to bring the small boat pier-side.

Kanawaha and Shoup also provided the dhow’s crew with food, water and medical support during the two days.

The press release said American naval vessels have longstanding tradition of helping mariners in distress by providing medical assistance, engineering assistance as well as search and rescue.
CTF 150 conducts Marine Security Operations between the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea.