Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS), Amartya, rescued a fishing boat, Bhagya Nidhi, and its six crew members, in distress about 22 km north-west off Malpe Coast on Friday.
According to a press release issued here by the Coast Guard, the boat was escorted safely to Malpe Harbour at 9.20 a.m. on Friday.
The boat was in distress due to flooding and its aft part had submerged in the seawater.
On getting information late in the evening on Thursday, the Coast Guard Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC), Mangaluru, functioning under the Coast Guard Karnataka Headquarters, promptly rushed ICGS Amartya from its designated patrol area to search and render assistance to the fishing boat.
Simultaneously, the Coastal Security Police (CSP) was also requested to deploy a boat and all other boats fishing in the area were informed to look out and assist the Bhagya Nidhi.
Meanwhile, the owner of the boat was also contacted and MRSC, Mangaluru, coordinated the search and rescue operation. The Coast Guard Remote Operating Station, Mangaluru, was broadcasting messages through its VHF Station at Bhatkal.
After an extensive search, ICGS Amartya located the fishing boat at 4 a.m. on Friday. The boat was towed by two other fishing boats — Jaishankar and Mahadevi. All the six crew of the boat were safe and transferred to another boat. The ICGS Amartya escorted the distressed boat till Malpe.
On the rescue operation, Coast Guard Karnataka Commander, Deputy Inspector General, K.R. Suresh, said that Coast Guard Rescue Sub Centre, Mangaluru, and all the Coast Guard units were ready to undertake search and rescue operations during the ensuing monsoon.
The Coast Guard has urged the State Fisheries Department to ensure seaworthiness of the fishing boats before permitting them for fishing. All the boats should have lifesaving and communication equipment.
