Mangaluru: Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Amartya rescued Androth registered fishing boat Barracuda along with 13 crew members from a position 18 Kms off Malpe on December 6. F B Barracuda had sailed from Kochi on November 7. Its crew belonged to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam.
Coast Guard Karnataka received the information regarding likely sinking of the fishing boat from Deputy Director of Fisheries, Malapuram in the morning hours of December 6. ICGS Amartya was patrolling off Karnataka – Kerala coast on the aftermath of Cyclone Ockhi to provide search and rescue services. Immediately, the ship was diverted to proceed at the maximum speed and render assistance.
Within 2 hours, the ship reached the distressed fishing boat. The master of the boat intimated that the boat had suffered damages to its superstructure during Cyclone Ockhi and its communication equipment, 2 support dinghies and rations were lost. The boat was drifting without propulsion since December 3.
The fishing boat was in distress due to flooding. There was about 3 tonnes of water in the engine room. Ship’s damage control party was embarked on the fishing boat, which de-flooded the fishing boat using submersible pump and contained the sea water ingress using damage control plugs. The fishermen were in an exhausted state and provided with first aid, food, water and support by the ship.
Due to flooding, the engine of the boat has seized and it was towed by ICGS Amartya safely to Malpe and handed over to another fishing boat Mary Matha along with 3 crew members for taking to Malpe Port at 1:30 PM. The ICG ship entered New Mangalore Port along with 10 rescued fishermen on December 6.
ICGS Amartya has been at sea since December 1 and saved 35 lives during Cyclone Ockhi including this SAR operation. On an earlier occasion, the ship was also involved in rescue of Barge IBIS, wherein 27 lives were saved in the thick of monsoon in the month of June. The ship has saved 62 lives since the onset of SW monsoon.
The rescue operation was overseen by No 3 Coast Guard District Headquarters (Karnataka). During the rescue efforts, constant liaison was maintained with Sasikanth Senthil S, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada and Priyanka Francis, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Udupi by Deputy Inspector General S S Dasila, TM, the Commander, Coast Guard Karnataka.
The Commander expressed his satisfaction over the rescue efforts and stated, “Saving of every life is important irrespective of the challenges of the rough sea conditions. We at District Karnataka are committed to respond to all probabilities emerging at sea, convert daunting missions and tasks into possibilities through proactive and cohesive approach and operational agility. Coast Guard is ever ready to respond to maritime challenges and will not leave any stone unturned in the service of the Nation and protection of life at sea and living to its motto-Vyam Rakashamah, i.e., We Protect.”
