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13 Dead After Navy Rescue Attempt

Published Jan 12, 2011 9:30 AM by The Maritime Executive

The Navy’s destroyer WINSTON S. CHURCHILL was towing a boat out of the shipping lanes and back to Somalia when the boat capsized, throwing the 85 Somali and Ethiopian passengers overboard. Thirteen drowned and 11 are missing.

The warship sent out a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to bring food and water to the passengers. When the RHIB got close, passengers rushed to the side of the boat, causing it to capsize.

Crew on board the warship’s RHIB rescued 61, and is providing food and water to the rescued onboard the warship. The Navy has not yet decided where to return them.

The skiff, floating with a makeshift tarp sail, was trying to travel from Somalia to Yemen when they ended up in the shipping channels.

Source: The Navy TImes, Photo: IS1 Christopher Williams / Navy