Search And Rescue Incidents

At about 0920 h on 23 Feb 24, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Port Blair received an alert from Distress Alert Transmitter (DAT) ID-36926 from position 14 N miles South East of Rutland Island, Andaman & Nicobar Island. On receipt of information, ICG Ship C-150 was deployed at 1400 h on 23 Feb 24 to investigate the distress alert. ICG Ship located distressed boat MV Tiger along with 04 crew at 2030 h on 23 Feb 24. The IFB reported loss of propulsion due to engine failure. Subsequently, ship’s technical team boarded the IFB to render technical assistance, however repairs at sea proved futile. Accordingly, the ICG Ship took disabled IFB under tow and proceeded to Hutbay. Subsequently, at 0515 h on 24 Feb 24, ICG Ship entered Hutbay harbour along with IFB MV Tiger. Thereafter, the IFB along with crew was handed over to Fisheries Department.

At about 2130 h on 23 Feb 24, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Mumbai received information from MV Maersk Siran while transiting in area regarding IFB Vaazhivin Manna and IFB Akash along with 15 crew (both IFBs) stranded due to engine failure in position 150 N miles South West of Kavaratti. On receipt of information, ICG Ship Amartya was diverted to render assistance. ICG Ship arrived datum at 0600 h on 25 Feb 24 and ship’s technical team boarded both IFBs to assist in defect rectification. However, defect could not be rectified view non-availability of spares. Accordingly, ICG Ship took distressed IFBs under tow at 1127 h on 25 Feb 24 and proceeded to Agatti Island. Subsequently, ICG Ship handed over both IFBs along with 15 crew to Fisheries Department off Agatti Island at 1300 h on 26 Feb 24.

At about 1000 h on 25 Feb 24, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Port Blair received information regarding engine failure of IFB Harish Fishing in position 15 N miles North West of Kamorta Island. On receipt of information, ICG Ship C-418 was diverted to render assistance. ICG Ship arrived datum at 2330 h on 25 Feb 24 and Ship’s technical team boarded the boat to assist in defect rectification. However, defect could not be rectified view non-availability of spares. Accordingly, ICG Ship took distressed IFB under tow at 0100 h on 26 Feb 24 and proceeded to Kamorta. Subsequently, ICG Ship towed distressed IFB till Kamorta anchorage at 0300 h on 26 Feb 24.

At 1407 h on 13 Mar 24, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Mumbai received an email from VTS Khambat regarding man overboard from MV Ambuja Shakti in position 28 N miles North-West of Umargam Lt, Gujarat. On receipt of information, ICG Ships C 419 and Achook along with ICG Chetak 809 and ICG Dornier CG 766 were tasked for SAR of missing crew on 13 Mar and 14 Mar 24. Extensive search was carried out by ICG units in coordination with other Merchant Vessels namely MV Ambuja Shakti, Ambuja Gaurava and Ambuja Rohini. MRCC Mumbai also activated ISN to alert the Mariners transiting through the area. At 1352 h on 14 Mar 24, ICG Ship Achook recovered missing crew in position 32 N Miles North west of Umargam Lt, Gujarat and handed over the body to MV Ambuja Shakti.

At 0900 h on 16 Mar 24, Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Kavaratti received information from Intelligence Bureau, Kavaratti regarding overdue MSV Varatharajan. On receipt of information, ICG Ship C-450 was deployed at 1300 h on 16 Mar 24 for SAR. Further, ICG Ship Saksham and ICG Dornier was also deployed/ launched at 1208 h and 1500 h on 17 Mar 24 respectively. Extensive search was carried out by ICG units in coordination with private boat Aysya (IND-KL-MO-223) arranged by the agent. At 0920 h on 18 Mar 24, MRSC Kavaratti established communication with the master of the vessel on mobile number. The master of MSV intimated that the vessel had sunk and 08 crew were safe in dinghy ex-MSV Varatharajan. MRSC Kavaratti shared the mobile number of master to Union Territory Lakshadweep (UTL) Police for tracking.
At 1115 h on 18 Mar 24, UTL Police confirmed the location of mobile tower. Accordingly, MRSC Kavaratti diverted ICG Dornier, ICG Ship Saksham and C-450 towards the updated position. Additionally, MRSC Kavaratti directed Port Control Tower (PCT) Kalpeni to divert IFB Kuthubu Zaman for search of the dinghy boat, being the nearest boat. IFB Kuthubu Zaman located the dinghy and embarked all crew onboard and entered Kalpeni Island at 1215 h on 18 Mar 24.

At 1300 h on 20 Mar 24, Remote Operating Station (ROS), New Mangalore received information from Coastal Security Police (CSP) Malpe, Karnataka regarding flooding onboard IFB Ajmeer-I in position 09 N miles South-West of Kundapura Lt, Karnataka. On receipt of information, ICG Ship Rajdoot on area patrol was diverted to render assistance. ICG Ship arrived datum at 1402 h on 20 Mar 24 and assisted the distressed IFB in de-flooding operations using damage control equipment.Subsequently, IFB Goldfish (IND-KA-03-MM-4566), arranged by Fisheries and Fishing Association also arrived datum at 1540 h on 20 Mar 24. The IFB Goldfish took the distressed boat along with 08 crew under tow and proceeded towards Gangoli fishing harbour under escort of ICG Ship. Further, the IFB Goldfish along with distressed boat safely entered Gangoli fishing harbour, Karnataka at 1810 h on 20 Mar 24.

At 1230 h on 24 Mar 24, Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Porbandar received information from Fisheries Association Porbandar regarding flooding onboard IFB Prem Sagar in position 25 N miles West of Porbandar Lt. On receipt of information, at 1330 h on 24 Mar 24, ICG Ship C-161 was deployed forassistance todistressed IFB. ICG ship reached datum at 1430 h on 24 Mar 24. Subsequently, ICG Ship’s damage control teamembarked onboard the distressed boat and assisted in de-flooding and containment of water ingress. Further, ICGShip evacuated all 05 crew ex-IFB Prem Sagar and handed over the boat to IFB Shiv Nandan for towing back to Porbandar. Thereafter, the ICG Ship brought all (05) rescued fishermen ex-IFB Prem Sagar to Porbandarand handedover to Fisheries Association. The disabled IFB sank in position 8.5 N miles off Porbandar whilst under tow by IFB Shiv Nandan.