Kelvin Battle News

USNS Saturn Aids Stranded Fishing Vessel

U.S. Navy combat stores ship USNS Saturn (T-AFS 10) aided a stranded fishing vessel about 53 nautical miles south of Aug. 24. Saturn's watchstanders on the bridge noticed two crew members of the fishing vessel Triple Suerte waiving distress flags. After receiving permission from Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S), who had tactical control of the ship, Saturn launched a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to begin a search and rescue investigation. Once the RHIB crew arrived on-scene, Triple Suerte's master, Edward Jiminez, explained the crew had been stranded for four days due to the vessel's lifeless battery. Saturn's crew of about 120 civil service mariners and 40 Sailors were happy to help the stranded mariners. Saturn's engineers rendered assistance by providing a new battery.