ICG rescues 14 fishermen from flooding fishing boat

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel have rescued 14 fishermen from a flooding fishing boat around 80 km off coast early today. According to a statement from Coast Guard Dist Headquarters 11 Goa, on receipt of a message from Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Mumbai (MRCC) at 2300 hrs last night regarding a fishing boat in distress, about 46 miles North West of Mormugao head, the Coast Guard operations team swung into action and coordinated search and rescue operation. The operations room at Coast Guard was in constant touch with the fishing boat who informed that they were 14 crew and water was flooding in. They requested for immediate rescue as they feared sinking of the boat. Coast Guard ship C-140 sailed within minutes and rushed to the scene of action to render assistance. The Coast Guard ship reached near the distressed fishing boat at about 0300 hrs early today. Braving the adverse condition of the sea and night time, the Coast Guard personnel jumped into the boat to assess situation. On investigation it came to light that 02 forward tanks of the boat were flooded and water was also flooding in the engine room. The Coast Guard team without delay tried to put a submersible pump to pump out water. However, the same was not possible due to the adverse sea conditions. Decision was taken to continue to bail out water and take the boat under row. Eleven of the 14 crew were evacuated onboard the Coast Guard ship. Indian Coast Guard ship C-140 with the fishing boat under tow along with 14 rescued fishermen entered Momugao Harbour in the early hours of today. In harbor the technical team of Coast Guard with the help of submersible pump de-flooded the compartments. The boat was later handed over to the local agent arranged by the owner who subsequently took the boat for repairs. The Fisheries Department of Goa was very proactive in coordinating relief to the fishing boat in distress, the statement added.