On Sunday 7 February 2015, the EU Naval Force counter-piracy flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, provided urgent medical assistance to an injured seafarer, who had suffered a serious burns injury whilst at sea in his cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden.
The cargo ship, which was transiting through the Internationally Recommended Traffic Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden, had sent out a SOS distress call calling for help, which was relayed to the EU Naval Force flagship by German frigate, FGS Lubeck, which is also deployed with the EU’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta.
Upon hearing the call, the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, immediately ordered ITS Andrea Doria to launch her EH 101 helicopter, with the warship’s Medical Officer LT Alberto Guasconi on board, with the Italian destroyer also increasing speed and closing the distance to the cargo ship.
Once the Italian Navy helicopter arrived at the cargo ship, the Medical Officer was winched on board and taken to the seafarer.
After providing initial first aid, the Medical Officer assessed that the injured seafarer would require further specialist burns treatment in a hospital on land, so after being carefully placed on a stretcher, he was transferred to ITS Andrea Doria for an onward journey to Djibouti.
After refueling on board ITS Andrea Doria, the warship’s helicopter flew the injured seafarer to the French military airbase in Djibouti, where he was transferred to the local Bouffard hospital.
Since the EU Naval Force was launched in December 2008 many warships from European Union Member States have assisted seafarers in great distress in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.