GREECE AND U.S. COORDINATE SEARCH AND RESCUE AFTER CARGO SHIPS COLLIDE

FROM: U.S. NAVY
Greece and U.S. Military Coordinate Rescue
By Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs
MEDITERANNEAN SEA (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA) personnel Recovery team and an aircraft assigned to Commander, rask Force (CTF) 67 assisted the Greek Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) during a search and rescue (SAR) event near Greece, after two cargo ships collided April 29.

In conjunction with the MRCC, the CNE-CNA personnel recovery team responded to the request for support to help locate and assist the missing mariners.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Robert G. Bradley received a mayday call in the early morning hours, which put the personnel recovery team into action.

Once the search area was determined, the personnel recovery staff gave coordinates to CTF-67, which launched a P-3C maritime patrol aircraft to search the area and locate the missing mariners.

The P-3 crew helped coordinate efforts with a Greek rescue helicopter until a Greek C-130 was able to arrive on-scene.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full range of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.