U.S. and Iraqi Sailors aboard the Basra Oil Terminal, as part of Combined Task Force Iraqi Maritime, received a distress call from the fishing boat Kadem Alabbas approximately 50 miles from the Kuwaiti coast, which had been adrift at sea for three days.

Chinook, which was in port at Kuwait Naval Base, was dispatched to the scene to assist.

Upon arrival, Chinook's commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Allen L. Maxwell, Jr., sent his boarding team to evaluate the conditions aboard Kadem Alabbas and establish the level of assistance required.

Once determined repairs to the boat would need to be completed ashore, Chinook towed Kadem Alabbas approximately 30 miles until it was handed off to an Iraqi Navy Patrol Boat for further transfer to Basrah, the vessel's home port.

"This is what we do," said Maxwell. "Navy PC's and Iraqi Patrol Boats are very capable platforms and we had an opportunity to display just how flexible we are and how well we work together."

Coalition forces have a long standing tradition of helping mariners in distress by providing assistance, such as food, water and rescues at sea.

"It took some time and patience, but we got it done and also showed these mariners that Coalition ships in the Arabian Gulf are out here to help."