US Navy rescues women
Tasha Fuiaba, an American mariner who had been sailing for five months on a damaged sailboat, climbs the accommodation ladder to board the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland in the Pacific Ocean, Oct. 25, 2017. U.S. Department of the Navy

Two Americans and their dogs — stranded at sea for almost five months in the Pacific Ocean — were rescued by the U.S. Navy on Wednesday.

Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiaba — residents of Honolulu, Hawaii — departed in spring, with their dogs for Tahiti, only to have their boat’s engine fail on May 30 amid bad weather. However, they continued their journey, believing they could make it to land by sail, said a press release.

The boat eventually strayed off its intended course and two months into their journey, they began issuing distress calls. However, they were not in the range of other vessels or shore stations for them to receive the calls.

Appel and Fuiaba were discovered 900 miles southeast of Japan by a Taiwanese fishing vessel Oct.24, the Navy said in the statement. The fishing vessel contacted Coast Guard Sector Guam who then coordinated with Taipei Rescue Coordination Center, the Japan Coordination Center, and the Joint Coordination Center in Honolulu to provide assistance.

USS Ashland was in the area for a routine deployment and rushed to the location of the stranded vessel, arriving at the scene at 10:30 a.m in the morning. An assessment of the sailboat revealed it was unseaworthy.

The moment USS Ashland found the stranded mariners was captured in a video and posted online. Pictures of the rescue were also shared.

Stranded women found by US Navy
Sailors assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland maneuver the ship in the Pacific Ocean to render assistance to distressed mariners stranded for about five months, Oct. 25, 2017. U.S. Department of the Navy
dog rescued by USS Ashland
U.S. Navy officers help Zeus, one of two dogs, accompanying the two mariners stranded for about five months in the Pacific Ocean, Oct. 25, 2017. U.S. Department of the Navy

The crew members then took the distressed mariners and their two dogs aboard the Navy ship where they are expected to remain until Ashland’s next port of call.

Appel said they survived the situation for that long because they had taken with them water purifiers and over a year's worth of food, primarily in the form of dry goods such as oatmeal, pasta, and rice.

"I'm grateful for their service to our country. They saved our lives. The pride and smiles we had when we saw [U.S. Navy] on the horizon was pure relief," said Appel.

The women and their pets were also provided with medical assessments and accommodation aboard. "The U.S. Navy is postured to assist any distressed mariner of any nationality during any type of situation," said Commander. Steven Wasson, Ashland commanding officer.

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