Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 22: In a brave effort, the Coast Guard rescued 10 fishermen who were stranded off the coast of Malpe in Udupi.

In yet another SAR operation, the 10 fishermen were rescued from IFB sea shell, about 100 km west of Malpe. The fishermen belong to Kannur district of Kerala.

The boat was in distress since January 20 due to flooding in machinery compartment and multiple machineries failure onboard. Indian Coast Guard Remote Operating Centre (ROS), Mangaluru received the distress call from the fishing boat at 6.30 pm on January 20 and immediately ICG Samar in the area was diverted for rendering assistance.

At 9.20 pm on January 21, 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 towed by the ship. ICGS Samar handed over the boat along with the 10 crew to DD fisheries off old Mangaluru port at Monday January 22.

On completion of SAR DIG S S Dasila, Coast Guard commander, Karnataka brought out the issue of negligence on the part of the owners of fishing boats over not keeping track of boats once they venture into sea in terms of safety and security of crew. The matter is being taken up with the state and the district administrations for ensuring that
the owners be made more responsible and plays an active role in ensuring safety and security of crew onboard once they venture into sea for fishing. The commander further stated that towing of fishing boat is not per se the role of ICG, however in this instant it was undertaken on humanitarian grounds. Units of ICG are ever ready to safeguard the
national maritime interest, he added.