USS Hue City Aids Distressed Iranian-Flagged Dhow

Guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) rendered medical assistance and provided food, water and fuel to an Iranian-flagged dhow, M/V Payam, Aug. 15, approximately 45 miles southeast of Muscat, Oman.

At approximately 2:20 p.m. local time, Hue City responded to a distress call for medical assistance relayed by a U.S. P-3C Orion, operating under Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) conducting a routine maritime patrol.

After arriving on scene, Hue City dispatched two rigid-hull inflatable boats, transporting the ship’s hospital corpsman, and the visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team to assess the injured personnel.

It was discovered that of the 13 dhow crew members – six Pakistani and seven Iranian, two required medical assistance and were subsequently treated by Hue City’s hospital corpsman.

The dhow’s crew members reported that the vessel had been pirated and was lacking food, water and fuel. Hue City then provided four bags of rice, six cans of kidney beans, 70 gallons of water, and 50 gallons of fuel; enough supplies and fuel to allow the dhow to continue on to its next port of call.

“Providing assistance to our fellow mariners is an essential part of our mission here and this was an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the welfare and safety of those in the region,” said Capt. Daniel Uhls, Hue City commanding officer.

Hue City is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts, and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Naval Today Staff, August 17, 2012; Image: US Navy