Photo Gallery

This week’s Military Sealift Command “Ship in the Spotlight,” is the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14). The ship’s crew rescued three fishermen in distress aboard a fishing vessel while transiting the South China Sea. Upon spotting the distressed vessel, watch standers immediately notified the bridge, and the ship launched a rigid-hulled inflatable boat to recover the fishermen. The three individuals, later identified as citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, were brought aboard Cesar Chavez and evaluated by the ship’s medical staff. All three were found to be in good health. Philippine authorities were immediately notified. Professional and vigilant watch standing procedures enabled the crew to locate and recover the distressed fishermen quickly and safely. Cesar Chavez conducts routine logistics and resupply missions in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet.