From NATO:   HMS Chatham’s Bridge team received a distress call from the Master of MV Dubai Moon, who said that his ship was caught in a tropical storm 90 miles south west of Socotra and struggling to make headway in extremely rough seas and high winds. …

As HMS Chatham made her way into the storm, the weather worsened into a tropical cyclone and the situation onboard Dubai Moon became even more perilous. Listing heavily, with her cargo of vehicles crashing around the deck, she drifted ever closer to a small island off the coast. …

As the day wore on the weather improved slightly, presenting HMS Chatham with an opportunity to rescue the crew. In very challenging conditions, the warship launched her Lynx helicopter and, in an operation which lasted for over 3 hours, the 23 seamen were winched by helicopter to safety from the MV Dubai Moon. …

Commander Simon Huntington, the Commanding Officer of HMS Chatham said "This rescue was conducted in the most challenging sea conditions imaginable and I am extremely proud of my Ship’s Company whose sole focus was to assist the Master and crew of MV Dubai Moon. It was, without doubt, the professionalism and courage of my sailors and aircrew that ensured this rescue was a success. The tropical cyclone tested the ship and everyone on board; it is the quality of our people, equipment and training which has resulted in the Royal Navy saving the lives of fellow mariners in such demanding circumstances."

After the rescue, Hassan Madar the Ethiopian Master of the MV Dubai Moon said "Normally we operate close to the coast, but we had to go far out to sea to avoid pirates. That meant we could not find shelter from the storm. If we had not been rescued by the Royal Navy and NATO we would have died with my ship. They were the only people to respond to our distress call; we owe them our lives." (photo: U.K. Ministry of Defense)

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