Posted:
April 6, 2017
On March 29, the crew of the Invincible broadened the scope of the Law of the Sea to include a large turtle afloat and badly entangled in nets and fishing line, which was spotted by the ship's bridge team.
"With no pending operations, we immediately commenced 'Turtle Ops'," said Captain Bradford Collins. "The bow thruster was brought online and the ship was maneuvered to bring the turtle alongside and onboard."
The ship's contract-civilian crew and U.S. military and civilian personnel onboard responded and carried out the rescue, he said.
With the turtle onboard, via the side port, the nets and fishing lines were cut away and the no-longer-distressed turtle was released back overboard.
"The quick response of the ship's crew to a life in distress and the maneuvering of the vessel to facilitate the safe shipboard recovery of a life, albeit a turtle, is indeed a demonstration of an unannounced Man Overboard rescue," Collins said. "Invincible's diligent crew and teams responded beautifully as a cohesive unit."
The USNS Invincible is part of the T-AGOS/T-AGM fleet and is operated for Military Sealift Command by Crowley Government Services. The ship is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.
USNS Invincible saves a life at sea in 'Turtle Ops'
On March 29, the crew of the Invincible broadened the scope of the Law of the Sea to include a large turtle afloat and badly entangled in nets and fishing line, which was spotted by the ship's bridge team.
"With no pending operations, we immediately commenced 'Turtle Ops'," said Captain Bradford Collins. "The bow thruster was brought online and the ship was maneuvered to bring the turtle alongside and onboard."
The ship's contract-civilian crew and U.S. military and civilian personnel onboard responded and carried out the rescue, he said.
With the turtle onboard, via the side port, the nets and fishing lines were cut away and the no-longer-distressed turtle was released back overboard.
"The quick response of the ship's crew to a life in distress and the maneuvering of the vessel to facilitate the safe shipboard recovery of a life, albeit a turtle, is indeed a demonstration of an unannounced Man Overboard rescue," Collins said. "Invincible's diligent crew and teams responded beautifully as a cohesive unit."
The USNS Invincible is part of the T-AGOS/T-AGM fleet and is operated for Military Sealift Command by Crowley Government Services. The ship is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.