They have been reported lacking for almost 14 hours.
Coast Guard Sector Charleston initially reported the divers’ standing, and Coast Guard Sector North Carolina initiating a multi-asset search and rescue effort. A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules plane noticed the divers and dropped a life raft for them.
Porter responded to a request from the HC-130 plane to help the rescue effort, 40 nautical miles southeast of Wilmington, N.C., at roughly 1 a.m., Aug. 14.
“I’m pleased with the mixed efforts of the management and crew of USS Porter, Destroyer Squadron 26, and U.S. Coast Guard personnel to rescue 4 divers,” stated Rear Adm. Max “Pepper” McCoy, commander, Provider Strike Group (CSG) 4. “Their secure return to their households is indicative of the professionalism and teamwork of our maritime companies.”
Porter Sailors safely rescued the divers from a life raft launched from the HC-130 and transported them to the ship utilizing a inflexible hull inflatable boat, which was captured in video by the Coast Guard.
Whereas aboard the ship, all 4 divers obtained a fundamental medical analysis and meal. At roughly 3:30 a.m., they have been moved to a Coast Guard small boat for transportation ashore and reunification with their households at Coast Guard Station Oak Island
“I couldn’t be extra pleased with the crew of this ship,” stated Cmdr. Joseph Hamilton, commanding officer of Porter. “It’s really spectacular to observe a bunch of younger women and men come collectively as a staff to assist our fellow residents in misery at sea, whereas additionally sustaining deal with the essential mission that we’re supporting in Giant Scale Train ‘23. It’s only one unbelievable instance of their dedication to the mission and our motto, ‘Freedom’s Champion.’”
Porter is working within the space supporting LSE 23 beneath CSG 4, who’s main dwell occasions inside, and off the coast of, Virginia and North Carolina.
The train is a dwell, digital, and constructive, globally built-in train designed to refine how the Navy and Marine Corps staff synchronizes maritime operations throughout a number of fleets.
“As skilled mariners, U.S. Navy Sailors have a duty to assist individuals who want help at sea,” stated Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. “The truth that Porter was in a position to conduct this rescue whereas actively collaborating in one of many largest world naval workout routines of the yr is a testomony to the crew’s flexibility and readiness to function throughout a spectrum of operational duties they could be referred to as to do sooner or later. They’re able to saving these in want whereas defending the homeland…they’re able to battle tonight.”
Porter and USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) are particularly targeted on furthering maritime air protection and floor warfare integration with Marine Corps aviation on the tactical and operational ranges of warfare inside LSE 23.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Mid-Atlantic posted pictures of the divers’ reunion with their households from their official X (previously often called Twitter) account this morning.
LSE 2023 is a dwell, digital, and constructive, globally built-in train designed to refine how the Navy and Marine Corps staff synchronizes maritime operations throughout a number of fleets. Collaborating items will embody six Navy and Marine Corps part instructions and 7 U.S. numbered Fleets, together with U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet, working throughout 22 time zones.
Provider Strike Group 4 mentors, trains and assesses provider strike teams, amphibious prepared teams, and unbiased deployers for world fight in opposition to peer rivals.
U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the altering world safety atmosphere, develops and employs maritime forces able to battle throughout a number of domains within the Atlantic and Arctic as a way to guarantee entry, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and accomplice pursuits.
Please contact U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs at c2f_pao@us.navy.mil with further queries.
