November 10, 2022 — On October 28, the United Seamen’s Service recognized four vessels and their crews for providing search and rescue assistance to mariners in distress, honoring one of the highest traditions of the maritime profession. The Honored Seafarer awards went to the U.S. merchant mariners of the boxship CMA CGM Herodote, the MSC-chartered product tanker Maersk Peary, the MARAD missile telemetry ship Pacific Tracker and the MSC expeditionary fast transport USNS Yuma.
CMA CGM Herodote: Three saved from a fishing boat fire
On March 21, 2022, while transiting off the coast of Tanegashima Island, Japan, the crew of the CMA CGM Herodote saw smoke from a fishing vessel about eight nautical miles away. Herodote diverted towards the fire and discovered a Japanese fishing vessel, the Yuujin Maru 51, completely engulfed in flames. The vessel was burned from the superstructure to the waterline, and it had no visible name or designating marks left. There were no signs of survivors.
The crew of the Herodote began a search pattern to look for survivors and made a call for assistance from other merchant traffic in the area. They also contacted the U.S. Coast Guard Command Center Honolulu and coordinated with the Japan Coast Guard on the search response.
After a search, Herodote located three survivors in the water. The men were rescued by a Greek-flagged tanker which had joined the effort (the Woodside Rogers).
Herodote continued her search for a total of seven hours until she was relieved by the Japan Coast Guard. Unfortunately, the three fishermen Herodote located were the only survivors out of a crew of eight aboard the Yuujin Maru 51.
For their actions, Capt. Nick Simmons of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam presented Capt. Donald Moore and the crew of the Herodote a Coast Guard Certificate of Merit.