Coast Guard Rescues 10 Fishermen in Distress
Mangalore: The Coast Guard Headquarters, Karnataka was actively involved in yet another SAR operation wherein 10 fishermen were rescued from IFB Seashell (IND – KL – 04 – MM -1372) 100 Km west of Malpe belonging to Kannur, district of Kerala.
The boat has been in distress since 20 Jan 2018 due to flooding in the machine compartment and the failure of multiple machines onboard. The Indian Coast Guard Remote Operating Centre (ROS) Mangalore received the distress call from the fishing boat at 1830 hrs on 20 Jan 2018 and immediately ICG Samar which was in the area was diverted to render assistance.
At 2120 hours, on 21 Jan 2018 ICGS Samar located the fishing boat about 90 Km west of Malpe, carried out night boarding operations and undertook repairs for stopping the ingress of water into the boat. The crew was provided with necessary assistance and the fishing boat was taken under tow by the ship. ICGS Samar handed over the boat along with the 10 crew to DD fisheries, off the old Mangalore port at 1245 hrs on 22 Jan 2018.
On completion of SAR DIG SS Dasila Coast Guard Commander, Karnataka brought out the issue of negligence on part of the owners of the fishing boat wherein not keeping track of boats once they venture into the sea in terms of safety and security of the crew. The matter is being taken up with the state and district administration for ensuring that the owners be made more responsible and play an active role in ensuring safety and security of the crew onboard once they venture into the sea for fishing. The Commander further stated that towing of the fishing boat is not per say the role of ICG, however, in this instance it was undertaken on humanitarian grounds. Units of ICG are ever ready to safeguard the national maritime interests, he added.Coast Guard Rescues 10 Fishermen in Distress