WASHINGTON, June 13. /TASS/. Crewmembers of the Kokuka Courageous tanker that was attacked in the Gulf of Oman have been taken aboard the Bainbridge guided missile destroyer of the US Navy, US Central Command spokesman Army Lt. Col. Earl Brown said on Thursday.
"Twenty-one mariners from the M/V Kokuka Courageous, who abandoned ship, are currently aboard USS Bainbridge," he said in a statement.
"US Naval Forces in the region received two separate distress calls at 6:12a.m. local time and a second one at 7:00 a.m.," he said. "US Naval Forces Central Command received the calls from the M/V Front Altair and M/V Kokuka Courageous, who were operating in international waters of the Gulf of Oman."
"USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) was operating in the vicinity and provided immediate assistance to the M/V Kokuka Courageous," he said, adding that a Navy P-8 is also providing support.