The Paradip-based Coast Guard personnel on Friday evening spotted a trawler 90 km off the Paradip coast by aircraft and rescued 15 fishermen after a report reached that the trawler had developed a technical snag and was floating mid sea. The vessel belonging to Talseri fishing base in Baleswar district was out in a fishing voyage about two days ago. However, its shaft and fan of the propelling device stopped functioning and the boat just floated in water.
The initial information about the problem was received by a trawler owners’ association of Dhamra in Bhadrak district from Digha fishing base after the ill-fated boat’s crew informed about their plight. Soon, it communicated the message to the Baleswar fishing base as well as the ADF Marine for necessary actions. The fishing bases in Baleswar and Bhadrak couldn’t establish any contact with the distressed boat crews for some hours.
ADF Marine Anup Sahu said, “When I received the message, I informed to the Paradip Coast Guard. The boat is somewhere in the Bay of Bengal. The rescue operation is on.”
He added that the boat belongs to one Jogendra Gangei of Gambharia under Bhograi block and is a registered one. The Coast Guard personnel pressed ship ICGS Sucheta Kriaplini and an aircraft into service to rescue the boat. located, the trawler was towed with the Coast Guard ship and was being brought to the Dhamara harbour when the report was being filed.