Find us on Facebook  Underwood Rescues Peruvian Fishermen
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FriendSend to a Friend  Sailors assigned to the Oliver Hazard
Perry-class frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) rescued six Peruvian
fishermen drifting in a disabled vessel off the coast of Peru,
May 10.  The fishermen were isolated at sea for ten days after
developing mechanical problems with their vessel. They were
unable to radio for help after their 12-volt batteries died.
The fishermen signaled Underwood as the ship passed by.
Underwood Sailors then boarded a rigid-hulled inflatable boat
(RHIB) and approached the vessel.  "When we got there, [we saw]
it was this small, broken down fishing boat," said Gas System
Turbine (Mechanical) 3rd Class (SW) Brian Stankowitz. "There was
a kid who was about 11 years old and he was using a manual bilge
pump because they were taking on a lot of water. They were
basically sinking."  After providing food and water to the
fishermen, the Sailors returned to Underw