Round 10:00am, the bridge group of USS Stout overheard a bridge-to-bridge radio transmission from a cargo vessel off the coast of North Carolina hailing the Coast Guard for medical help for a civilian onboard who suffered an damage. Able to reply the decision, Stout shortly responded, setting a course to the vessel in misery whereas concurrently getting ready a small boat group with medical personnel to render support upon arrival. As Stout approached the vessel, they discovered the cargo vessel Grande Portogallo, on its option to Mexico, and a member of the crew had sustained accidents from a sizzling gasoline oil spill and was in want of medical consideration.
A crew of 5 Sailors from Stout deployed on a inflexible inflatable boat (RIB) and embarked the Grande Portogallo to offer medical care to the injured crewmember. The Stout bridge group maintained communication with the vessel in addition to U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina all through the incident. After figuring out the crewmember required medical evacuation, USCG deployed a helicopter for help. Stout personnel remained on scene till USCG arrived and took over affected person care, evacuating the affected person to shore by way of helicopter for additional medical remedy and analysis. Stout’s small boat crew then headed again to the ship earlier than persevering with with CSG-8 Group Sail operations.
“The crew carried out nicely as professionals, shortly transitioning from tactical coaching to real-life humanitarian help,” mentioned Cmdr. Desmond Walker, commanding officer of USS Stout. “The coordination between our fight data heart, bridge, small boat group and the U.S. Coast Guard ensured the quickest response doable, given the kind of emergency,” he added.
Whereas a principal mission of the Navy is sustaining free and open seas, serving to these in misery is simply as vital. U.S. Navy belongings won’t ever flip away from a name for assist. USS Stout responded to this name for assist shortly, successfully, and professionally, highlighting a part of the ship’s motto, “Quick and Prepared.”
