A U.S. Coast Guard rescue team evacuates the crew of the cargo ship Shayesteh in the Persian Gulf on Feb. 18, 2025. Before the ship sank, the seven crew members were saved and then transferred to the Navy's USS Devastator. (X/U.S. Central Command)
A pair of American military vessels responding to a mayday call this week saved the crew of a sinking cargo ship in the Persian Gulf, according to U.S. Central Command.
The Navy mine countermeasures ship USS Devastator and Coast Guard cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. came to the aid of five Iranians and two Indians aboard the Shayesteh before their ship sank Tuesday, Naval Forces Central Command said in a statement Wednesday.
After receiving a distress call, the Coast Guardsmen boarded a rigid hull inflatable boat and brought the seven mariners back to their ship, CENTCOM said. The cargo ship crew members were aboard the Navy ship and receiving medical care as of Tuesday.
A U.S. Coast Guard team from the cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. rescues seven mariners from a cargo ship in the Persian Gulf on Feb. 18, 2025. The mine countermeasures ship USS Devastator provides backup during the rescue operation. (U.S. Coast Guard)
“Providing assistance at sea to mariners in distress is a core Coast Guard mission,” said Lt. Michael O’Dell, Clarence Sutphin Jr.’s commanding officer. “It is inherently dangerous, but the team executed without hesitation — without fear — to extend their compassion to people in a dire situation. I’m incredibly proud of to be a part of this team.”
CENTCOM did not specify the exact location of the rescue but said the ship was flying a Qatari flag, which is customary in territorial waters.
The Shayesteh had departed from the Iranian port city of Bushehr on Sunday, according to marinetraffic.com, a maritime tracker. The ship was last located just off the coast of Bahrain.
As part of an international naval partnership, the Coast Guard regularly monitors the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea to deter the movement of illicit weapons and drugs.
Last week, another Coast Guard cutter, the USCGC Emlen Tunnell intercepted 5,300 pounds of hashish from a ship in the Arabian Sea.
