During the patrol, aimed at guaranteeing the safety of the merchant ships in the area as well as of all the local boats, the Italian military ship noticed on the horizon a small vessel that proceeded at very low speed with what appeared to be a sail. Approaching for a further check it was clear to the Libeccio crew that the dhow was in an emergency situation. The technical staff of the military ship, boarded on the dhow to provide assistance, could not help but confirm an unrepairable engine problem.
Given the high distance from the coast and the potential danger of life for the crew of the boat who did not have the means to approach the coast independently, the commander of Nave Libeccio, frigate captain Stefano Calvetti, considered it necessary to take the dhow to trailer and accompany it to the Yemeni coast. The small boat, by means of the Italian dinghies, was brought close alongside and, after checking the solidity of the hull and the health conditions of the six sailors of the dhow, refreshed with water and food, was positioned at the stern of the Italian unit to the trailer.
After a whole night proceeding slowly so as not to cause injury to the towed vessel, on the morning of Saturday 1 February the Libeccio frigate, now near the city of Al Mukalla, in Yemen, made contact with the local coast guard who immediately sent a patrol boat to take custody of the dhow and its crew and safely tow it to port.
At the end of the event, further confirmation of the spirit of solidarity between sailors, the Italian Navy ship immediately resumed patrolling in the Gulf of Aden.
Source: Military Navy
