Distress alert gadgets for fishing vessels

Authorities have launched a drive to equip the sea-worthy vessels across the State with a unique transmitter device developed by India Space Research Organization (ISRO) to help the crew tide over the mid-sea distress and exigencies. Though such exercises were carried out in past years, majority of the sea-going vessels are yet to be covered under the scheme.

To make sea voyage safe and hassle-free, the Coast Guard in a joint endeavour with the State Marine Fisheries Directorate has begun to distribute the improvised gadgets free of cost to marine fishermen and vessel operators.

At a function organized here, the Coast Guard and State Marine Fisheries Directorate authorities distributed the Disaster Alert transmitters (DAT) free to marine fishermen and crewmembers of sea vessels (See picture). This unique distress alert gadgets having round-the-clock satellite linkage would act as saviour for the fishermen community at the hour of distress as crew could easily send SOS to Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.

All the sea-worthy vessels are being covered under DAT in a phased manner. All the sea-going vessels have been targeted to be brought under DAT safety ring. Besides, it would invigorate the coastal security mechanism as fishermen and crew of sea-worthy vessels are important components of keeping tab on subversive elements. Through the transmitters, they could easily alert the coastal security agencies on sea pirates or suspiciously moving vessels. The transmitters would serve dual service. Apart from strengthening the coastal security, it would ensure the safety of crew in danger or threat”, Mr. K P S Raghuvamshi, Deputy Inspector General, Coast Guard, Paradip, told newsmen.

The crew would simply have to switch on the button to arrest the attention of Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of the Coast Guard. Fishermen have also been advised to transmit the sighting of any suspicious vessels along the coast through the disaster alert transmitters”, said Mr. Raghuvanshi.

The user-friendly transmitter could provide meticulous information such as exact global positioning system, location of the distressed fishing vessel and the nature of the distress via satellite image to the Coast Guard’s Rescue Coordination Centre.

We are quite optimistic that the experiment would prove to be an overwhelming success from coastal security and fishermen’s safety viewpoint, he added.

Over 2000 sea-worthy fishing vessels venture into 13 nautical miles for sea fishing. All these vessels would be brought under transmitter safety ring in a phased manner. There has been some delay in distribution of DATs to the marine fishermen and crew members. Of the 600 sea-worthy vessels that operate from Paradip coast, 50 per cent of them are now armed with DATs. Emphasis is being laid to equip all the vessels with distress transmitters within the next six months.

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