Port Blair, July 3: In a coordinated operation, Indian Coast Guard ship Kanaklata Barua located and rescued a fishing boat – DUNAMMA’’, with five crew, which was stranded at sea 10 nautical miles north of Port Blair due to engine failure. The boat had sailed from Junglighat fishing harbour on Friday for fishing. However, due to problem in her engine, the boat got stranded and could not return. When other boats which went along with DUNAMMA returned in the morning on Saturday, the owner of boat got worried and informed Coast Guard MRCC about the missing boat and requested for assistance.
On receipt of information, two coast Guard ships and one helicopter, which were patrolling in the area, were diverted to search for the missing boat. At about 1145 hrs, Coast Guard ship KanaklataBarua located the boat approximately 10 nautical miles North of Port Blair. The crew informed that the boat was adrift since 4 am due to broken engine crank shaft. As there was no communication equipment on the boat, the crew could not communicate with boat owner and were helpless. Since repair of engine was not possible, the boat was towed to Port Blair harbour by Coast Guard ship and handed over off at Ross Island to another boat arranged by the owner at 2.40 pm today.
The Coast Guard has urged all fishermen to carry DAT and lifesaving equipment on their boats, so that they can inform Coast Guard authorities about any distress situation and can be saved. Fishermen can also inform about any distress situation to Coast Guard on toll free number 1554.
