USNS Henson rescues survivors off Africa
The rescue operation occurred last month about ten nautical miles off the coast of Gabon, a nation in equatorial Africa.
According to ship's master Capt. L.J. McDonough, USNS Henson was performing routine operations when second mate Jim Mixon noticed a small craft signaling with flares in the distance.
"We immediately changed course and headed for the area, which was about three nautical miles away," McDonough said.
Once on scene, the small craft could no longer be seen on the surface. After scouring surrounding waters for more than 30 minutes, crewmembers noticed that two people were in the water, as well as a dog.
The survivors, both males believed to be in their 50s, and the dog, were brought aboard and given medical attention. The ship's medical officer Neil Nelson found the survivors in good condition. The men were given dry clothes and a meal in the ship's galley.
The survivors, identified as French nationals living in Gabon, said they were scuba diving when their boat became swamped in rough seas and sank. They were later transported to shore aboard the ship's 34-foot hydrographic survey launch by crewmembers Bill Conley and Steve Howerton.
USNS Henson is one of the eight oceanographic survey ships that are part of the 30 ships in Military Sealift Command's Special Mission Ships Program (PM2). (FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND-EUROPE PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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