NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2010


Death on the high seas as skiff capsizes


THE GREAT sea lanes that converge on the Gulf of Aden mean the waters between Somalia and Yemen teem with shipping of all shapes, sizes – and purposes.


trade, be it fishermen hugging the coasts or colossal container ships plying between Asia and Europe. Prowling along ‘Pirate Alley’


Almost all of it is legitimate


are warships of numerous navies, protecting merchantmen against the threat of pirates, looking out for gun-runners or drug-smugglers. The freebooters are a tiny part of the overall picture – though they garner a disproportionate share of media rhetoric. And at the bottom of the pile, as


ever, are the refugees, who place their lives in the hands of others in a bid to improve their lot. And though the radar screen


may be spattered with contacts, the reality is a very large patch of water for very small boats to navigate.


And the dreams of escape can quickly turn to despair, panic and death on the high seas, as the crew of the USS Winston S Churchill found. The Arleigh Burke destroyer is unique in the US Navy in that it has a Royal Navy officer assigned to the ship’s company – and Lt Brian Drewett


Navigating Officer. The ship, part of the USS Harry


is the current


S Truman carrier strike group, was temporarily reassigned to Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 on patrol in the Gulf of Aden. Early on September 26 a skiff


was discovered wallowing in the Gulf by the South Korean destroyer Wang Geon, which passed on the position to the Winston S Churchill (WSC), which was operating in the vicinity.


pirate vessel, WSC closed in and launched a sea boat to investigate.


Initially classed as a suspected


● Lt Brian Drewett RN, navigating offi cer of the USS Winston S Churchill


“Once on station, it quickly became apparent that the skiff was transporting passengers from Somalia to Yemen,” said Lt Drewett. “It was not clear why the skiff


food,” said Lt Drewett. “We determined that they had probably been without food and water


tremendous heat.” Attempts to restart the engines


for several days in some ● American sailors pluck refugees and the skiff’s crew from the water


proved fruitless so one of the sea boats began to tow the skiff to safety out of the main shipping lane towards the coast of Somalia. “This was a slow process and


people from two points as the RIBs were filling up quickly. “It affected some of the crew


we were being extremely careful,” said Lt Drewett. “We used Churchill as a wind break and to increase protection of them from risk of collision in the busy waterways.” But


handed over to the passengers they rushed to one side, destabilising the fragile vessel.


as supplies were being


was in the area – a busy shipping lane which has been riven by attacks by Somali pirates. “But the United Nations says an estimated 74,000 Africans – mainly from Ethiopia and Somalia – fled poverty and conflict at home and crossed the Gulf of Aden to reach Yemen in 2009. “The


approximately 85 passengers, consisting of ten Somalis and 75 Ethiopians.” The


commanding CTF 151, Rear Admiral Sinan Ertugrul, directed the American ship to help, and a party of sailors went across with food and water, and to take a look at the state of the craft. “The skiff had been at sea for some time and the passengers were clearly in need of water and


Turkish admiral skiff was carrying


throwing all 85 people into the sea, sparking a full-scale search and rescue operation on the destroyer, which was only a few hundred yards away, and which called in additional help from an Australian patrol aircraft. “I was on the boat deck watching the dual RIB operations,” said the British officer.


down and watch events from down there, just to give me a different perspective from a ship-handling point of view – something I picked up whilst serving on single-role minehunters in Scotland. “I watched, in what seemed like


slow motion, as the passengers all seemed to lurch towards one side, coupled with the helmsman of the skiff turning to port, away from the RIB, which meant the starboard side heeled over towards the water.


“Once launched, I normally go It rapidly capsized and sank,


The scene left its mark on those who witnessed it.


down there – I spoke to them and refocused them. “We needed to get these people onboard as quickly as possible, and the midships area quickly filled so we started moving them to the flight deck.” It was not all good news,


however.


“Despite the valiant efforts of both RIBs, it became apparent, that


entered the water had died,” said Lt Drewett. “We received reports from the RIBs and they came back to the ship.


some of those that had


never forget,” said Lt Drewett. “We did above and beyond to help these people and ensure they were safe. It was an unfortunate tragedy.


“Those are some images I will


transatlantic links which Churchill himself represented.


situation they must have been in to want to attempt a crossing like this, in an open boat, in summer, with no food or water. “After it was all over, I went and


sat down outside and had a think for a few minutes. “We managed to rescue 62


people.


survivors and started to embark the dead.


the RIBs to the deck, where we had medical teams immediately start work on them. “Miraculously, one of the skiff passengers was brought back to life by two of our crew – a truly magnificent effort.”


“We cleared the area of the “All in all I moved 13 dead from


but, what if the coalition units had not been there? “We would have never have found these people. “Someone would have come across a boat with 85 dead on it...” Since


commissioned in 2001 five young RN officers have had the chance to navigate her. Lt Drewett has been with the destroyer for 18


the Churchill “I don’t like to think ‘what ifs’, “It makes you think what a dire serves to Pictures: US Navy


months, and has another six to go before he hands over to a compatriot – a rolling programme which


embody the


“This exchange is also one of the few that puts an officer into a frontline unit,” he added, “Most exchanges involve staff or advisory group postings, with slightly more senior officers going to NATO positions or embassy attachments. Exchanges that are at the pointy end, as mine is, are reserved for only a few men and women in the whole of the Army, Royal Navy and RAF.” “Being on a warship of this size and magnitude is a real privilege. “The chance to live and work with the US Navy is truly a great experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone.” Lt Drewett’s next post is a bigger job on a smaller ship – he will take command of University RN Unit patrol boat HMS Explorer, providing training opportunities for students of Hull, Sheffield and Leeds universities.


19


What is “Haven For Heroes?”


“These two things combined caused the freeboard to drop below the water and it just filled up.


“I saw the crew start to jump from the boat – they had been using sticks and belts to keep the passengers under control. “Then the boat just flipped


To demonstrate our support for British Personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and to thank them for their commitment and bravery the VSC offers substantial discounts to those returning on R&R or post operational tour leave from those theatres. Below the “Haven for Heroes” rates are shown against our standard price for a Memorial Wing Room.


over. It must have taken five or six seconds. “We were prepared and our planning had brought out this possibility – that is why we had both RIBs in the water. “I


flotation and medical supplies to be brought to the boat deck. “In only a few minutes we were receiving the first survivors onto the ship.


● The overloaded skiff shortly before it capsized began by arranging for


“I remember one, the first I helped onboard, was a child, no more than ten years old. “We started embarking the


[Haven for Heroes eligibility is only for British Serving Armed Forces men & women who have


served in these theatres within the past 6 months]*


Room Type


Single ensuite per night Double ensuite per night Family ensuite per night


Haven for Standard Hero Rates


£30 £40 £55


*Room rates available until 31st December 2010


Rates £45 £85 £112


● Medical staff on the USS Winston S Churchill attend to survivors from the capsized skiff


Contact us now res@vsc.co.uk


020 7616 8335


www.vsc.co.uk/Haven-for-Heroes


Photograph by: © Crown Copyright/MOD


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