ICG tows fishing vessel adrift on rough seas

Team Udayavani, Aug 16, 2018, 4:15 PM IST

• ICGS Rajdoot provides assistance to the malfunctioning vessel
• 43 lives saved since 12^th August

Mangaluru: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Operations Centre at Panambur received information that a fishing vessel (FV) named Vishwas Reg No. IND-KA-02-MM-4418 with nine crew onboard was adrift 40 NM off Surathkal due to engine failure on August 13^th.

Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS)  Rajdoot which was operating in the area on patrol duty was immediately diverted towards the fishing vessel which was adrift and meanwhile, Indian Coast Guard Ship Kasturba Gandhi based at New Mangalore was also kept standby at short notice.

On August 14^th, ICGS Rajdoot reached the position of distress and provided logistic support to the fishing vessel. As the boat engine was beyond repairs it was towed to the nearest harbor. As ICGS Rajdoot on security patrol ICGS Kasturba Gandhi was pressed into service to tow the malfunctioning fishing vessel to the nearest harbor. However, while braving the rough sea conditions, ICGS Kasturba Gandhi developed a technical snag on steering system of the ship.

Hence, Kasturba was directed to enter NMPT after providing logistic support to FB Vishwas. Subsequently Coast Guard Ship Rajdoot was directed to render assistance to fishing vessel on August 15^th, following which the malfunctioning vessel was safely towed to NMPT under very rough sea conditions and handed over to the vessel’s owner on August 15^th.

43 lives saved

Since 12 Aug 2018, the Coast Guard ships and Ops Centre of Coast Guard District Headquarters of Karnataka in a co-ordinated effort has been successfully able to save 43 lives. The vessels and crew rescued include FV Laxmi Janardhana crew 08 off Bhatkal, FV Chitramoola off Malpe 06 Crew, FV Vishwas off Surathkal Crew 09, FV Zaibaman off Talapady Crew 10 and FV Sadan off Kasaragod Crew 10.