Four people were rescued yesterday from a fishing vessel in distress about 120 miles southwest of O'ahu, according to military and Coast Guard reports.

Two Navy ships — the amphibious assault vessel USS Peleliu and the guided missile cruiser USS Port Royal — along with a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules plane from Air Station Barbers Point took part in the rescue mission.

The two Navy craft were en route to Pearl Harbor when they were diverted to the Pacific Laurel, which had been taking on water since the day before. Four of the five crew were rescued by Navy helicopters and escorted to Pearl Harbor aboard the Peleliu.

The ship's master chose to stay aboard to attempt to salvage the vessel. Crew members from the Coast Guard cutter Ahi, stationed at Honolulu Harbor, arrived at the scene yesterday afternoon to assist the skipper.

The Coast Guard had been notified of the Pacific Laurel's problems at 6:30 p.m. Friday. A crew aboard the Hercules plane flew to the scene and dropped dewatering pumps and a VHF radio to those aboard the ailing craft.

The Peleliu is homeported in San Diego, and the Port Royal is based at Pearl Harbor. Both ships were returning from overseas deployments.

The fishing vessel crew was expected to reach Pearl Harbor late yesterday afternoon.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.