Sailor Missing USS Port Royal

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A Sailor from USS Hopper (DDG 70) was reported missing Jan. 3 at approximately 7:30 am local time while the ship was conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Arabian Sea.
Following a routine transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Jan. 6, three U.S. Navy ships operating in international waters in the Persian Gulf were approached by five Iranian small boats that demonstrated irresponsible confrontational behavior near the U.S. ships.

Iranian Vessels Threaten U.S. Ships in Hormuz Strait NEWS NEWS



U.S. Navy ships USS Port Royal (CG 73), USS Hopper (DDG 70) and USS Ingraham (FFG 61) were steaming in formation at approximately 8 a.m. as they finished a routine Strait of Hormuz transit when five boats, suspected to be from the Islamic Republic of Iran Revolutionary Guard Navy (IRGCN), maneuvered aggressively in close proximity of the Hopper. Following standard procedure, Hopper issued warnings, attempted to establish communications with the small boats and conducted evasive maneuvering.

Coalition vessels, including U.S. Navy ships, routinely operate in the vicinity of both Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and IRGCN vessels and aircraft. These interactions are always correct on the U.S. part and reflect a commitment to accepted tenets of international law and common practice.

The USS Port Royal (CG-73), one of three U.S. naval vessels involved in a confrontation with Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday morning

- The search to locate a Sailor discovered missing from USS Hopper (DDG 70) was called off at 2:05 p.m. local time after 30 hours of extensive searching.

The Sailor was reported missing Jan. 3 at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time while Hopper was conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Arabian Sea.

A "man overboard" was immediately called and air and surface forces from the Hopper, USS Port Royal (CG-73) and USS Ingraham (FFG-61) began conducting Search and Rescue operations in the Arabian Sea.

The Sailor was last seen at approximately 4:30 a.m. Jan. 3.

The name of the Sailor is being withheld.

No further details are immediately available.

Hopper is forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of MSO.