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March 29, 2010

The Virginian-Pilot
© March 29, 2010

The Norfolk-based destroyer McFaul last week rescued 30 Somali men, women and children who were stranded aboard a skiff with no food and little water.

The Arleigh Burke class ship was on routine patrol and was about 100 miles north of Somalia on Thursday when crew members spotted the skiff, a Navy news release says.

The skiff’s outboard motors had failed and the people aboard had been without food for about four days, according to the release.

The people on board the boat were taken aboard the McFaul and given food, blankets and a place to sleep, the release says.

The skiff’s engines were repaired and the people who had been on board were taken to the northern coast of Somalia.

The McFaul is assigned to a multi-national task force to conduct counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia.