Halsey received the emergency distress call from the disabled M/V Al Piranpir, which had been adrift for 48 hours due to mechanical issues. Upon arrival, they provided aid to the 15 Indian mariners, and enabled the vessel so that it could proceed under its own power.

“It is a privilege to provide assistance to those in need,” said Cmdr. Kelechi Ndukwe, commanding officer of Halsey. “Making the seas even safer to navigate is a big part of our mission here aboard Halsey and throughout the fleet.”

The U.S. 5th Fleet regularly works with coalition forces, regional partners and the shipping industry to maintain the regional awareness necessary to facilitate aid to mariners in distress.

The 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) outlines the obligation of all mariners to provide assistance to those in distress at sea. U.S. naval forces have a long tradition of helping mariners in distress by providing medical assistance, engineering assistance as well as search and rescue.

Halsey is attached to Commander, Task Force 50, deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.