Warrior Rescues Fishermen at Sea
By Ensign Manuel Sousa, USS Warrior Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Mine-countermeasures ship USS Warrior (MCM 10), with the assistance of USS Chief (MCM 14) and the Mexican Navy, rescued two fishermen 36 miles off the coast of Mexico April 5.
The two men had been drifting in their small open skiff for two days when Warrior's bridge team noticed someone on the vessel waving an improvised flaming torch to attract attention.
Commanding Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Femino, who speaks Spanish, communicated with the fisherman through a megaphone and reassured them of their safety.
Sailors from Warrior attempted to repair the small fishing boat, but the engine was beyond repair. Warrior contacted the Mexican Navy for assistance in returning the men and small boat to Mexico.
The Mexican Navy Aquario Class Patrol Boat arrived at 1:30 a.m. April 6 to return the fishermen and boat to shore.
Warrior and Chief departed Naval Station Ingleside in early March and are in route to their new homeport of San Diego.