John-Ericsson

Civil service mariners aboard USNS "John Ericsson" rescued five people lost at sea in a small boat near the Solomon Islands May 18, 2011. While conducting routine operations in the Solomon Sea May 17, the ship received notification from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers in Australia and Papua New Guinea at about 11 p.m. to be on the lookout for a missing commercial vessel. At about 8 a.m. local time the following morning, a vessel with five individuals aboard waving frantically was spotted. The "Ericsson"’s civil service master, Capt. Richard Kirk. Kirk immediately ordered the ship to sail towards the small craft to render assistance. Visibility at the time was very limited by rain squalls. The "Ericsson" carefully inched close to the boat and the ship’s crew secured lines to the small craft. The sailors were brought on board where they received a medical examination as well as food and water. They were tired and dehydrated but they appeared to be in good condition. They were transiting between the Solomons’ Nissian and Bougainville islands when they became disoriented by bad weather and heavy seas, spending two nights and three days lost more than 35 miles out to sea. The "Ericsson"’s crew was also able to salvage the small boat by placing a large net underneath the vessel, lifting it out of the water using the ship’s crane, and securing the boat to the side of the ship for transport. Ericsson then made the short transit to nearby Bougainville Island where the five commercial sailors, along with their vessel, were repatriated ashore.