While operating under Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) on Thursday, October 15, the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill provided assistance to a motor vessel in distress in the Arabian Sea.
The crew of the Iranian-flagged dhow signaled to the destroyer via a flashing light that it was in distress.
When hailed over bridge-to-bridge radio, the dhow's crew explained that their engine would not start due to a dead battery and they had run out of food and water.
The destroyer's boarding team transited to the dhow via a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) and conducted an initial seaworthiness inspection. They also provided the distressed mariners with food and water.
After verifying that Churchill did not have the type of battery required by the distressed vessel, the navy crew requested assistance from the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard. The destroyer remained on-scene until Omani authorities arrived to render further assistance to the Iranian sailors.
