USS HALYBURTON, At Sea (Feb. 3, 2011) — USS Halyburton (FFG 40) assisted a Yemeni fishing dhow in the Gulf of Aden that had been adrift at sea for 10 days, Jan. 28.
Halyburton was conducting routine counter-piracy operations when the dhow mariners were observed waving their arms in distress.
Crew members deployed a rigid-hulled inflatable boat with a boarding team to assess the condition of the dhow and its 10 crew members. The team learned the vessel’s engine had failed and needed repairs.
While Halyburton towed the dhow toward Yemeni national waters, a repair team fixed its engine. Halyburton also provided food and water to the fishermen, and medical personnel assessed them to be in good health.
The repair team was able to get the engine running and the ship’s master was confident the dhow could make it back to port in Yemen.
Halyburton is deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, conducting counter-piracy operations to ensure safety and stability in the region.