NORFOLK (AP) -- A Norfolk-based Navy ship served as a Good Samaritan after a vessel carrying 10 Moroccan mariners capsized in the Mediterranean Sea.
"As soon as our lookouts saw the capsized vessel we had response teams manning up within seconds," Cmdr. John K. Reilley, USS Mesa Verde commanding officer. "It only took an hour and a half from the time we first saw them, to our recovery on board the ship. We couldn't have asked for a better response from our blue and green team."
The Navy said the mariners said other ships in the area had passed by and not offered assistance.
Sailors and Marines on the amphibious transport dock ship Mesa Verde brought the mariners aboard their ship Tuesday. The stranded mariners told them their boat had capsized in rough seas, leaving them without food or water for three days and no offers of help from passing vessels.
The Navy's release stated the ship's medical staff treated the Moroccans for hypothermia and dehydration. The mariners were later turned over to the Spanish coast guard.
The Mesa Verde is deployed as part of USSS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and deployed from Naval Station Norfolk on March 23. The crew has spent the past 10 months supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.
The ARG is returning home after having been relieved by the Makin Island ARG.
AP-WF-01-26-12 0802GMT
