Last Saturday, 19 May, USS TAYLOR detected a drifting dhow with no propulsion while patrolling off the Horn of Africa in support of NATO’s counter piracy Operation Ocean Shield. The dhow named NAHDA was found by USS TAYLOR right at the entrance of the Gulf of Aden. After sending a team onboard NAHDA, it was established that both propulsion and communications were beyond repair. USS TAYLOR decided to provide assistance to NAHDA by towing her back to Yemen.
NAHDA was sailing from Socotra Island to Shihir, Yemen with three tons of fish on board. Her master reported that he had been experiencing engine and transmission problems since earlier in the morning. USS TAYLOR’s team boarded the drifting dhow to provide assistance and was able to confirm that all nine crewmembers were safe.
On the morning of 20 May, USS TAYLOR began to tow NAHDA back to Yemeni territorial waters. The following morning, NAHDA and her crew were handed over to another Yemeni merchant vessel which towed her all the way back to the coast.
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Naval Today Staff , May 29, 2012; Image: NATO