Posted:
June 23, 2009
The containership Maersk Missouri on June 21 rescued a sailor from his stricken craft approximately 160 miles south of Sable Island.
The Missouri received a request to conduct a rescue operation from U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center Norfolk at 4 a.m. that day while the Missouri was westbound into Newark, N.J.
The ship turned around and traveled 130 miles to reach the stricken sailboat, the S/V Citta di Salerno, and maneuvered alongside it.
“In rough seas, just as lone sailor Gianfranco Tortolani got himself into the life ring, the ship’s bow rose high on a wave and the Salerno fell out from underneath him,” said Capt. John Coleman, master of the Maersk Missouri. “Taking the full load of his weight, (Chief Mate Mark) Rhodes, (AB Nabbassin Adedouawongobou) and (Second Assistant Engineer Mark) Jones then muscled him aboard. True heroism at sea.”
The Maersk Missouri is operated in the Maritime Security Program fleet by Maersk Line Limited and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers and in all unlicensed positions by the Seafarers International Union.
Maersk Missouri rescues sailor in rough seas
The containership Maersk Missouri on June 21 rescued a sailor from his stricken craft approximately 160 miles south of Sable Island.
The Missouri received a request to conduct a rescue operation from U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center Norfolk at 4 a.m. that day while the Missouri was westbound into Newark, N.J.
The ship turned around and traveled 130 miles to reach the stricken sailboat, the S/V Citta di Salerno, and maneuvered alongside it.
“In rough seas, just as lone sailor Gianfranco Tortolani got himself into the life ring, the ship’s bow rose high on a wave and the Salerno fell out from underneath him,” said Capt. John Coleman, master of the Maersk Missouri. “Taking the full load of his weight, (Chief Mate Mark) Rhodes, (AB Nabbassin Adedouawongobou) and (Second Assistant Engineer Mark) Jones then muscled him aboard. True heroism at sea.”
The Maersk Missouri is operated in the Maritime Security Program fleet by Maersk Line Limited and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers and in all unlicensed positions by the Seafarers International Union.