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Here's a great article I found at www.northwestnavigator.com: -- USS Momsen (DDG 92) recently received a Mayday distress call over the marine band radio. Although Momsen was on assignment in the Indian Ocean, it is every mariner’s responsibility to render assistance to any vessel in distress.  The initial details of the distress call were unclear and exact location of the distressed vessel was unknown. Momsen employed it’s SH-60B helicopter to conduct a nighttime search to identify the location of the vessel and the emergency and HSL-47 Saberhawks were able to locate the vessel approximately 60 miles away. The distressed vessel reported a loss of propulsion and required assistance for repairs.  The vessel also reported it had some flooding but luckily it was not in danger of sinking.  At sunrise, Momsen was on station and identified the distress vessel as Al Ameer, a 50-meter Sambuq dhow, which was transporting over 700 tons of charcoal from Kismaayo, Somalia to Ajman, United Arab Emirates.  During its transit, the cargo dhow became stranded due to a shaft failure and was also experiencing flooding through its stern tube. The vessel’s Master stated that his dewatering pumps were operational but only in preventing the water from rising. The Al Ameer’s pumps could not dewater the engine room. A short while later Momsen’s Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) team deployed in two Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) to render assistance. The dhow’s crew, comprised of 16 members, welcomed aboard the Momsen team. The VBSS team’s objectives included assessing the Al Ameer for seaworthiness and ascertaining condition of the crew, which they observed to be clean and healthy. The major challenge faced by the VBSS team was the language barrier as no Momsen crew members were fluent in Farsi, Arabic, Indian or Pakistani, no Al Ameer members were fluent in English.  “After all the training and practice, the VBSS team executed perfectly,” said Ensign Sean Jurgenson, a VBSS boarding officer. “I was amazed as boarding officers provided little specific direction to the rest of the team because everyone already knew what to do. Below decks on the Al Ameer, VBSS members met with the cargo dhow’s chief engineer who pointed to each engineering casualty.  Once Al Ameer’s flooding was evaluated, one RHIB returned with a P-100 pump to the Al Ameer; this pump is designed specifically for dewatering during flooding.  Three of Momsen VBSS engineers successfully discharged enough water overboard to enable Al Ameer’s discharge pumps to maintain the water level in the bilges well below the equipment.  Despite some communication difficulties the USS Momsen’s Visit and Boarding Team successfully managed the dhow’s flooding before another ship from the Al Ameer’s owner arrived in the evening to tow Al Ameer to safety. “Rendering assistance to vessels in distress is an obligation of all mariners.  I am glad we were available to help the Al Ameer and her crew,” said Momsen Commanding Officer Cmdr. Michael Sparks. USS Momsen is part of the USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group, which is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting operations that are focused on reassuring regional partners of the United States’ commitment to security, which promotes stability and global prosperity.  http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.php/navigator/regionalnews/momsen_crew_aides_distressed_vessel/