US Navy destroyer rescues distressed mariners from burning vessel in Sea of Marmara

The US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross conducted lifesaving emergency search and rescue (SAR) operations for a civilian Turkish vessel in the Sea of Marmara while conducting a southbound transit from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean on Tuesday, March 3.

At late morning (local time) on Tuesday, lookouts onboard Ross spotted smoke plumes rising from a small vessel in the Sea of Marmara. The destroyer quickly deployed a small boat, outfitted with two rescue swimmers and one medical corpsman, to rescue the distressed crewmembers and render assistance.

The navy sailors were able to rescue three mariners and recover two deceased individuals from the burning vessel.

The survivors were then brought aboard Ross and were provided immediate medical attention.

Ross later rendezvoused with a Turkish Coast Guard Command rescue craft to allow the survivors to be brought ashore to receive further medical treatment.