Military Sealift Command Public Affairs
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July 14, 2010

Military Sealift Command ship rescues Filipino fishermen at sea

Click on the image for a high-resolution photo.

A rigid hull inflatable boat, or RHIB, from Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson returns to the ship with five Filipino fishermen rescued from the sea after nine hours in the water, when their banka boat was capsized 10 miles offshore Subic Bay, Philippines by a typhoon. The fishermen were in good health, and returned to the Philippine Coast Guard. (U.S. Navy photo by Pablo Torres/Released)

Click on the image for a high-resolution photo.

A rigid hull inflatable boat, or RHIB, from Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson returns to the ship with five Filipino fishermen rescued from the sea after nine hours in the water, when their boat was capsized 10 miles offshore Subic Bay, Philippines by a typhoon. The fishermen were in good health, and returned to the Philippine Coast Guard. (U.S. Navy photo by Pablo Torres/Released)

Click on the image for a high-resolution photo.

Civilian Capt. James Driver, master of Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson, offers cash donated by the ship's crew and water to a group of Filipino fishermen rescued from the sea. The fishermen were rescued after nine hours in the water, when their boat was capsized 10 miles offshore Subic Bay, Philippines by a typhoon. The fishermen were in good health, and returned to the Philippine Coast Guard. (U.S. Navy photo by Pablo Torres/Released)

Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs press release by Lt. Mike Morley

Civil service mariners aboard Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson rescued five Filipino fishermen from the South China Sea 10 miles off the coast of Subic Bay, Philippines July 14, nine hours after their boat capsized in rough seas as Typhoon Conson passed over the island of Luzon.

Ericsson had departed the port at Subic Bay July 13 to avoid the storm, and was when Able Bodied Seaman Charles Wright spotted the fishermen at 1:10 p.m., clinging to their overturned boat and waving a yellow flag.

Just minutes later, at 1:33 p.m., Ericsson lowered its rigid-hull, inflatable boat, or RHIB, into the sea, and 10 minutes later all five fishermen were safely on Ericsson's deck, where a physician examined them.

"They were a bit shaken up because the seas were rough, but otherwise were in good health and happy to be on our ship," said Tiffany Brockman, Ericsson's chief mate. "We gave them fresh clothing, new socks and boots, and a nice meal."

A few hours after their rescue, the fishermen were ashore and handed over to the care of the Philippine Coast Guard.

"The crew was pretty excited to have played a role in helping these fishermen," Brockman added, noting that the Ericsson had several Tagalog-speaking members on its crew, making communication easy. "At first, nobody was happy that we had to sortie due to the typhoon, but being able to help these mariners in need made it all worth it."

Ericcson is a Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler, crewed by 92 civil service mariners working for MSC who operate and navigate the ship and three sailors who provide communications support and supply coordination. The ship provides underway replenishment of fuel to Navy combat ships and jet fuel for aircraft aboard aircraft carriers at sea.

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