Giannella rescues Cuban refugees in Gulf of Mexico

Giannella rescues Cuban refugees in Gulf of Mexico


	The officers and crew of the USNS Lawrence Giannella with the 13 refugees rescued by the ship

The T-5 tanker USNS Lawrence Giannella Aug. 2 rescued 13 Cuban refugees from a small craft during a rainstorm in the Gulf of Mexico. The refugees had been adrift for 13 days.

According to a report from Capt. R. Lee, master of the Giannella, the ship's lookout noticed the boat approaching the Giannella's port side. "Knowing we were over 300 miles from the nearest land ... this was strange indeed," Capt. Lee wrote.

The ship reduced speed and "began a hard 180-degree turn to port," Capt. Lee continued. "The whole crew immediately became involved. Most who were working inside jobs donned their rain gear and headed into the rain squalls to lend a hand."

He noted that several cruise and cargo ships either did not see or ignored the refugees while at sea and that they did not express excitement at the Giannella's approach until it was clear that the U.S. vessel was coming to help them.
v The 13 refugees were taken aboard the Giannella, given drinking water, dry blankets, clothing and medical attention by the ship's officers and crew. The most serious cases included a woman with a lacerated leg and a man "very weak" from diabetes.

"Once everyone was secured aboard ship, their few belongings were searched for weapons and each refugee was searched before moving them to rooms in the house," Capt. Lee wrote. "Their wooden vessel was released, and we resumed our voyage toward Charleston S.C. The steward department held over lunch in case anyone wanted to eat, but they were not interested in much food. They continued to drink fluids, and we supplied them plenty of Gatorade ... to bring their electrolyte levels back to normal. We also gave them plenty of simple carbs, such as cookies, to rebuild their energy levels."

On Aug. 3, the refugees were transferred to a U.S. Coast Guard vessel.

Ocean Ships Inc., of Houston, operates the USNS Lawrence Giannella for the Navy's Military Sealift Command. American Maritime Officers mans the ship in all licensed positions, and the Seafarers International Union represents the crew.

Editor's note: Capt. Lee's full report on the rescue, complete with photographs, is available in the Aug. 18 edition of Photos from the Fleet on AMO Currents at www.amo-union.net/photos.php.

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