Eleven Iraqi fishermen who had been adrift for five days when their dhow broke down in the Northern Gulf are safe, thanks the Type 23 frigate HMS Norfolk.

The Devonport-based warship deployed to the Middle East in October and has recently resumed patrol duties in Iraqi coastal waters as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, following a Christmas break in Dubai.

The crippled dhow, drifting far from land, was first spotted by an Allied surveillance aircraft, and HMS Norfolk altered course to investigate.

Night had fallen by the time the frigate reached the dhow, and the ship’s boarding party was greeted by a very relieved crew of fishermen.

The fishing vessel Al Asraa, based in Basra, had sailed eleven days earlier, but her engine had suddenly failed.

The boat drifted for five days, and the crew had run out of food two days before the British warship’s intervention, so the Iraqis were delighted when they were provided with food and water.

They were even more pleased when two of Norfolk’s mechanics managed to restart the dhow’s engine.

POMEMs Des O’Connor and Dobbo Dobson went over to the dhow and managed to turn the engine using batteries brought across from the frigate.

An overall check resulted in a few adjustments, and the engine was running smoothly again, providing power and light for the crew.

The Iraqis demonstrated their gratitude by presenting the sailors and Royal Marines of the boarding party with fish they had caught.

The Commanding Officer of HMS Norfolk, Cdr Tony Radakin, said: “We were glad to be of assistance to the Al Asraa.

“It is good to be helping the people of Iraq, whether they are fishermen stricken at sea or as a result of our more usual business of protecting Iraqi oil terminals and preventing oil smuggling from Iraq.”