Port Blair, Jan 02: Whilst the New Year – 2014 celebrations were on, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (Port Blair) was busy in coordinating Search and Rescue of three Myanmarese stranded onboard adrift wooden raft approximately 200 Nautical Miles west of Port Blair. At about 1830 hours on 31 Dec 13, the MRCC (Port Blair) received a distress message from transiting MT PALCHEM-I, from Vizag to Singapore that one wooden raft (approx 20 X 15 mtr.) with 03 crew onboard has been sighted and requesting for assistance. At the request of Coast Guard, the merchant vessel continued to remain in the vicinity of the adrift wooden raft, however declined to take the crew onboard view apprehension of the crew suspected to be pirates.
On receipt of the information, the MRCC (PB) and Ops Room of RHQ (A&N) plunged into action and initiated the rescue operation of 03 crew onboard drifting wooden raft.
ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh, commanded by Commandant Atul Joshi, was sailed with dispatch from Port Blair at 0200 hours on 01 Jan 14. The CG Dornier was also launched by the first light at 0545 hours to locate the adrift wooden raft and to establish communication with the merchant ship for coordinating SAR efforts.
The CG Dornier located the wooden raft with three crew onboard and immediately passed the position to Ops Centre and ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh, which was approaching the area for rescue mission. On arrival of CG Dornier in the area, the merchant ship was asked to proceed on her voyage.
Sailing for approximately 14 hours, braving rough sea conditions (sea state-3, winds upto 25 kts), ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh reached area at 1430 hrs and continued with the search to locate the raft. Despite poor visibility conditions persisting in area, the ship succeeded in locating the distressed raft with 03 crew at 1605 hrs on 01 Jan 14. The ship’s Boarding party boarded the raft and rescued all 03 crew at 1625 hrs. The survivors were provided with preliminary first aid, food and water. It was ascertained from the crew that they had been drifting since 16 Dec 13 and the raft was carrying 200 ltrs of fresh water, 100 kg of rice, firewood and solar panel with battery. The raft could not be towed by the ship due to its dilapidated and unseaworthy condition. Considering the safety aspects, actions have been initiated to issue Navigational warning to all mariners regarding drifting of unmanned raft.
ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh alongwith the rescued crew arriving Port Blair PM 02 Jan 14 for handing over to local Police for further investigation. The Coast Guard Region (A&N) once again demonstrated its resolve towards safety of life at sea and also international cooperation in saving of precious lives.
