SOUTH CHINA SEA — A United States Navy logistics vessel rescued three Filipino fishermen who had been adrift for several days in the South China Sea, underscoring ongoing maritime safety cooperation between the United States and the Philippines.
The rescue took place at around 12:45 p.m. on January 1, 2026, when the crew of the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) spotted a small fishing vessel in distress while conducting routine transit operations in the area. Ship watch standers immediately alerted the bridge upon noticing the disabled boat.
In response, Cesar Chavez deployed a rigid-hulled inflatable boat to assist the stranded fishermen. The three individuals were safely brought aboard the U.S. Navy ship and promptly examined by the vessel’s medical team. Officials confirmed that all three fishermen, later identified as citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, were in stable condition and did not require further medical treatment.
According to initial accounts provided by the fishermen, their vessel encountered heavy seas on December 28, causing the engine compartment to flood and leaving the boat without propulsion. The fishermen had departed port a day earlier, on December 27, and survived for several days at sea by rationing their limited food and water supplies while drifting.
Following the rescue, U.S. naval authorities immediately coordinated with Philippine government officials to facilitate the fishermen’s safe return to the country. Details of the handover were arranged through established communication channels to ensure their prompt repatriation.
The U.S. Navy credited the successful rescue to the crew’s strict adherence to professional watch-standing procedures and rapid response protocols. These measures enabled the timely detection of the distressed vessel and the safe recovery of its occupants.
USNS Cesar Chavez is primarily tasked with conducting logistics, resupply, and support missions for the U.S. 7th Fleet, which operates across the Indo-Pacific region. While the ship’s mission is largely non-combat in nature, the incident highlights the critical humanitarian role naval assets often play in ensuring safety at sea, particularly in heavily trafficked and weather-prone waters such as the South China Sea.
The rescue was welcomed as another example of maritime vigilance and cooperation that helps safeguard lives in the region.| – BNN Integrated News
