An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Aug. 21, 2023

Military Sealift Command’s USNS Millinocket aids vessel in distress

By Grady Fontana, Military Sealift Command Far East

Military Sealift Command's (MSC) expeditionary fast transport USNS Millinocket (T EPF 3) rendered assistance to a distressed small leisure boat in the vicinity of Darwin, Australia, Aug. 8.

Millinocket was operating near Darwin, Australia, in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 (TS 23).

“Millinocket responded to a distress signal from a small leisure craft,” said civilian mariner Capt. Erwin F. Lao, USNS Millinocket’s master. “We were in transit when we received the distress message about four miles away from our position while underway. The location of the distress boat was about 35 miles off the coast, northeast from Port of Darwin.”

The signal was initially received by the Australian harbor patrol and Millinocket responded since it was only four nautical miles from the signal.

The team on the Millinocket maneuvered the vessel toward the distressed craft prior to launching its fast rescue boat.

Millinocket’s fast rescue boat, manned by MSC civilian mariners Boatswain Mate Casimer Nowakowski, 3rd Assistant Engineer Noah McNair and Able-Bodied Seaman Frank Watkins, rendered assistance to the small craft in distress.

The small boat, with its five occupants, was disabled for a few hours at sea.

Millinocket provided the small vessel with fuel and remained in its vicinity until the Australian authorities arrived.

The Millinocket is a 338-foot-long aluminum catamaran designed for rapid inter-theater troop transport and sea basing. The ship can transport about 600 tons of military troops, supplies and equipment for 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots on jet propulsion.

TS 23 is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns.

MSC Far East ensures approximately 50 ships in the Indo-Pacific Region are manned, trained, and equipped to deliver essential supplies, fuel, cargo, and equipment to warfighters, both at sea and on shore. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
Twitter
355,460
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Hosts Brunei for Bilateral Defense Agreement
Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Sklenka, deputy commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, hosted Dato Alirupendi, permanent secretary ministry of defense, State of Brunei Darussalam, at USINDOPACOM headquarters on Dec. 7, 2023, for the 16th joint defence working committee and the signing of the Section 505 Agreement. The bilateral engagement further builds upon the cooperation and interoperability between the two countries, codifies the exchange of diplomatic notes and assets, and demonstrates USINDOPACOM’s commitment to its Allies and partners to help ensure a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Austin Riel)
Dec. 8, 2023 - CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii – Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Sklenka, deputy commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, hosted Dato Alirupendi, permanent secretary ministry of defence, State of Brunei Darussalam, at USINDOPACOM headquarters on...

International observers in multinational harmony at Operation Christmas Drop 2023
Republic of Korea Air Force Staff Sgt. Namseok Jeong, 259th Squadron rigger, participates in an Operation Christmas Drop 2023 (OCD 23) international forces bundle rigging event, Dec. 5, 2023, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The International Observer Program for OCD 23 featured forces from Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Interoperability and teamwork with our partner nations ensures we collectively remain ready for whenever and wherever the next disaster strikes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Taylor Altier)
Dec. 8, 2023 - Operation Christmas Drop 2023 has officially transcended its annual mission of spreading Christmas joy through humanitarian airdrop. What began as a humble charitable initiative has evolved into a multinational effort,...

U.S. Coast Guard conducts security boarding at Port of Guam, bolstering maritime security
A U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boarding Team, a key component of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, conducts a thorough security boarding of the 380-foot (116-meter) motor vessel Papa Mau, flagged from Antigua Barbuda, at the Port of Guam on Dec. 6, 2023. This general cargo vessel, arriving from Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), was meticulously inspected upon reaching Guam and found to be in full compliance. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Brian Maffucci)
Dec. 8, 2023 - The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boarding Team, a key component of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, conducted a thorough security boarding of the 380-foot (116-meter) motor vessel Papa Mau, flagged from Antigua...

Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office to Host Hackathon in Hawaii
Dec. 7, 2023 - The Office of the Secretary of Defense Chief Digital and AI Office, Defense Innovation Unit, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Army Pacific Command and the U.S. Air Force will host a multi-classification hackathon open to all...

Dongducheon/Casey host second cooperation council engagement
South Korea - Dongducheon City Mayor Park Hyeon-deok and United States Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan-Casey Commander Col. Lloyd Brown co-chaired the second Korean-American Cooperation Council hosted at Dongducheon City Hall, Dec. 6. The goal of the Dongducheon/USAG Yongsan-Casey council is to promote cultural exchanges, cooperation and generate mutual understanding between both communities, together with the U.S. Forces Korea and 8th Army guidance to help strengthen partnerships. (Photo Courtesy by Dongducheon City)
Dec. 7, 2023 - Dongducheon City Mayor Park Hyeon-deok and United States Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan-Casey Commander Col. Loyd Brown co-chaired the second Korean-American Cooperation Council (KACC) hosted at Dongducheon City Hall, Dec. 6...