[joeyo]

Off-topic: in the photo lede at the top of the article, are the rescued merchant mariners wearing standard eye/ear protection or is something else going on? Based on how they are holding the shoulder of the person in front of them, it almost looks like they are blindfolded.

[bewaretheirs]

I think that's standard eye/ear protection.

It would look really bad to lose someone after landing on the carrier.

The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is a loud, confusing, and dangerous place. I imagine they were told something like "this is not a time or place for sightseeing. hang on to the person in front of you and they'll lead you to a safe place below decks".

[maxbond]

I can see what you mean, but if you zoom all the way in on the man looking into the camera, you can just see their left eye (right from our perspective). I think this is a buddy-system safety measure for crossing an unfamiliar, loud, hectic, and hazardous environment.

[csomar]

I am guessing it’s helicopter's gear.