NEWS

At 1630 Hrs on 23 Jul 2004, MRCC Chennai received information that the crew members of MV Setia Jaya had abandoned the vessel consequent to a fire on board. The tanker was on passage from Male to Singapore. The reported position was in Srilankan SRR. MRCC Chennai was requested to initiate SAR action. A datum was established and an INMARSAT safety net message activated for attention of the ships in vicinity of 300 nautical miles from the datum. On 24 Jul 04 at 1050 hrs, Master of MV British Pride confirmed to MRCC Chennai that they had rescued nine crew members and recovered the bodies of six others who died. MV British Pride was on passage from Oman to Long Beach, USA when she was alerted by the CG activated safety net message.

1.       On 10 Jul 04 Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre(MRCC), Mumbai received a distress message from Maldives Coast Guard regarding a missing fishing boat with four persons onboard. According to the information the fishing boat named Mush Tharee was on passage from Naifaru island to Kaashidhoo island in the Maldivian group of islands and was last sighted on 09 Jul 04 at 1030 hrs. The reported position of the boat was 150 nautical miles outside Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR).
2.       Indian Coast Guard being a signatory to the SAR Convention, 1979 and in the light of assurance given to Maldivian Coast Guard for cooperation in matters of Search and Rescue, initiated Safety Net message on INMARSAT requesting vessels 300 nautical miles around the calculated most probable position to provide assistance.
3.       The concerted efforts of Indian Coast Guard resulted in sighting of vessel by a merchant vessel named MV Bonthi on 12 Jul at 1417 hrs (IST) in position 270 miles South West of Trivandrum. All the crew have been reported to be in healthy condition. Coast Guard, Maldives has thanked Indian Coast Guard for prompt assistance and cooperation . Indian Coast Guard has supported and cooperated with Maldives Coast Guard on many occasions in the past also.

1.       On 30 June, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Chennai received a telephonic message regarding a distress incident from MV SBS Nimbus, (C/S VQPJ5) operating in Kaveri Basin off the coast of Andhra Pradesh. According to the information, the vessel had sighted a fishing boat adrift at 1306 hrs on 30 Jun in position 115 Nautical Miles South West off Kakinada.
2.       The fishing boat was identified as FV AYOSA BABBY (NM 278) with five crew of Sri Lankan nationality onboard. The crew were reported to be in dehydrated state as the fishing boat was adrift since last 20 days due to defect in her main propulsion machinery and there was no food onboard for last five days.
3.      MRCC, Chennai assumed Coordination for SAR and directed MV SBS Nimbus to provide food & water to the fatigued crew. Since Kakinada Port was identified as the nearest harbour from the position of the distress, MV SBS Nimbus was directed to tow the fishing boat there. A Coast Guard Dornier Aircraft was also launched simultaneously from Chennai PM 30 Jun. The aircraft established communication with MV SBS Nimbus and confirmed the safe passage of rescued crew. Thereafter, concerned port authority was requested to provide a berth on the arrival of the fishing boat.
4.      FV AYOSA BABBY arrived finally at Kakinada port on 01 july at 0630 hrs. The boat was berthed alongside safely at Kakinada Harbour. All five crew members were provided with first aid and were reported to be healthy and recuperating.
5.      Subsequently MRCC, Chennai with active liasion with Dy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai and concerned officials in MEA and MHA monitored the vessels defection through maritime rescue sub centre (MRSC), vizag . On completion of its defect the fishing boat finally departed from kakinada on 15 July at 0600 hrs .

1.       Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) located at New Mangalore in Karnataka received an information on 30 May 04 from Fisheries Department regarding a fishing boat named Suraksha reportedly in distress due to engine failure. The vessel had six crew onboard and the reported position was 20 nautical miles (36 kilometers approximately) West off New Mangalore port.
2.       Indian Coast Guard MRSC diverted an offshore patrol vessel namely ICGS Varuna, which was operating in the area, to conduct search and rescue. ICGS Varuna was successful in locating the fishing boat about 18 nautical miles South West of New Mangalore at 0800 hrs on 31 May 04.
3.       ICGS Varuna deputed its technical team to the fishing boat which ascertained that the vessel was adrift since 27 May 04 due to breaking of the coupling of engine fuel injection pump. Following assistance was provided by Coast Guard to the distressed vessel:-
          (a)    Food and drinking water.
          (b)    First aid to crew.
          (c)    One battery for temporary operation of navigational lighting / communication.
4.       Since the defect could only be rectified ashore the fishing boat was towed to New Mangalore harbour and handed over to the owner.

ASSISTANCE TO FISHERAMEN - 18 APR 2004

On 18 Apr 2004 at about 1330 hrs Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Sub Centre(MRSC), Kochi received a distress message from marine enforcement wing, department of fisheries Beypore (Kerala) stating that a fishing boat named FV Rifayath with six crew on board was hit by a merchant ship in position 36 NM West of Beypore in Kerala. It was further reported that one crew member was picked up by fishermen in the vicinity and others were missing. Search and Rescue mission for the remaining five fishermen was launched. A Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh operating in the vicinity was diverted for the SAR mission. Simultaneously International Safety Net (ISN) was also activated on INMARSAT requesting the merchant ships in vicinity to keep sharp lookout for the missing fishermen. Responding to the Indian Coast Guard's ISN activation, a merchant ship named MV YASA AYSEN picked up one fisherman with head injury. The injured fisherman was transferred to INS Godawari transiting through the area. INS Godavary after providing first aid to the injured fisherman transferred him to INHS Sanjivni at Kochi for further treatment. ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh continued to search for the remaining bodies and ascertained further details about the incident. It was intimated that the debris/boat wreck was sighted by local fishermen off Tanur Nagaram and Papappanangadi in Kerala. Department of Fisheries, Beypore (Kerala) has conveyed sincere appreciation to Indian Coast Guard for its relentless effort in the search and rescue of missing fishermen.

MV GENIUS STAR VI - 13 APR 2004

Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Chennai received a distress alert from a merchant ship MV Genius Star VI on 13 Apr 04 at about 0400 hrs. The vessel was in position about 160 nautical miles South East of Sagar Island and was listing dangerously. The vessel was 96 meters long with 17 crew onboard (16 Chinese and one Taiwanese). In response to the alert received a CG Dornier aircraft was tasked in the area along with two CG ships ICGS Razia Sultana and ICGS Varaha. In addition, three merchant ships viz., MV Lok Maheshwari, MV Julian and MV Tonghai in the vicinity of the incident site were also diverted to render assistance. At about 1200 hrs the ICG Dornier on task reported sinking of the ill-fated vessel and sighting of the crew onboard two lifeboats and one life raft. Out of the total 17 crew 15 were rescued in a well-coordinated SAR operation involving two Coast Guard ships, one Dornier and two merchant ships viz., MV Julian and MV Tanghai. Interrogation of the rescued crew revealed that out of the three life boats lowered prior sinking, one life boat capsized owing to heavy listing of the ship and rough sea condition. It was further learnt that the ship sank due to uncontrolled flooding in the aft engine room. The successful saving of the 15 Chinese crew of the ill-fated vessel out of a total of 17 onboard, has been lauded by the Chinese and Indian Press. The efforts of Indian Coast Guard have also been appreciated by the Chinese Ambassador in India.

Safina-Ul-Badria Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Sub Centre, New Mangalore received a telephonic call at about 1130 hrs on 31 Mar 2004 regarding the vessel "Safina-Ul-Badria" in distress, in position 17 Miles South West of New Mangalore. ICGS Sarojini Naidu was sailed immediately with all damage control items onboard. On arrival it was observed that the aft portion of the vessel Safina-Ul-Badria was already submerged due to flooding of the compartments. The vessel was precariously balanced with the forward part projecting out of water. The six in number crew abandoned the vessel and were rescued by CGS Sarojini Naidu. The vessel Safina-Ul-Badria later sank in the same position at 1356 hrs.

SINKING OF MALAYSIAN TUG "TB MAYANG SARI" - 31 MAR 2004

Coast Guard Maritime Rescue & Coordination Centre (MRCC) Port Blair received a message on 31 Mar 04 from Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Malaysia that a Malaysian vessel "TB Mayang Sari", has sunk in position 50 nautical miles (East of Nancowry island in the Andaman group of islands) at about 0700 hrs. All eleven in number crew (all Indonesian) of the ill-fated vessel had abandoned the vessel and were reported to be afloat in a liferaft. MRCC, Port Blair immediately diverted a Coast Guard vessel, ICGS Gangadevi, which was at sea on EEZ patrol, for search and rescue operation. Simultaneously, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft was also launched from Port Blair at 1130 hrs in SAR configuration with droppable liferafts. ICGS Gangadevi arrived in area at 1300 hrs and rescued all the 11 crew members. After providing with first aid and completion of detailed joint interrogation by the various authorities, the rescued crew was handed over to local authorities

RESCUE FROM MSV JAL JYOTI - 20 FEB 2004

Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Sub-Sub Centre, Okha received an information at 1115 hrs on 20 Feb 2004 from authority of Mandavi Port, Gujarat that MSV Jal Jyoti has sunk in position about 22 nautical miles North West of Okha at 2330 hrs on 19 Feb 04. Ten in number crew of the vessel had abandoned the vessel and were adrift at sea in a life raft. Within 15 minutes of receipt of the distress message, a hovercraft H-184 was sailed from Okha and another Coast Guard vessel C-141 which was operating along IMBL was also diverted for Search and Rescue. H-184 arrived at the distress position at 1215 hrs and began carrying out a planned search pattern based on the life raft's most probable position due to wind and current. At about 1500 hrs the crew of MSV Jal Jyoti were located. The crew were thereafter taken to Okha for medical assistance.

The Indian Coast Guard Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) located at Kochi, Kerala received an information from Port Officer, Kavaratti regarding a missing vessel. According to the information MSV Jalaliya had sailed from New Mangalore on 07 Feb 2004 and was expected to arrive at Kavaratti at 1600 hrs on 08 Feb 04. The vessel could not arrive at the stipulated time and was also not in communication. Immediately a Search and Rescue mission was initiated by MRSC, Kochi and a Dornier was launched at 0830 hrs on 10 Feb 04. The aircraft, using the search pattern based upon the vessel's expected position and the effect of current & wind located her position. The vessel was observed to be adrift owing to machinery breakdown. Port Officer, Kavaratti was accordingly intimated. MSV Jalaliya was thereafter brought to Androth port in Karnataka under tow by a tug engaged by Port officer Kavaratti.

    The Director General Indian Coast Guard Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta, AVSM along with Commandant KPS Raghuvanshi, specialist in operation and piracy matters visited Japan from 16-19 Jun 2004 to attend the Meeting of Heads of Coast Guard Agencies of Asia. The meeting was culmination of all previous meeting on the subject, aiming at cooperation of all participating Coast Guard agencies from 16 countries of Asia. The meeting adopted a resolution called "Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies meeting on Asia Maritime Security Initiative 2004 (AMARSECTIVE - 2004)" where in all CG agencies of participating countries of Asia have agreed for following: -
            (a)  To promote further information exchange on Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships.
            (b)  To take action as deemed fit by respective Coast Guards on receiving information

1.      Indian Coast Guard has introduced an awards programme w.e.f. 2003 to honour those seafarers who have put in efforts to save lives of fellow seamen at sea when in distress. The award is an initiative of the National SAR Board. At present following two awards have been instituted:-
        (a)    Coast Guard SAR Award
        (b)    Essar Shipping SAR Award
2.       The awards for the year 2003 were presented during the third National SAR Board meeting on 21 May 04 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. Following recipients were honoured.
        (a)    Indian Coast Guard SAR Award 2003 was presented to MV Gas Oriental (MMSI 215481000) by Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta, AVSM, Chairman National SAR Board.

(b) Essar Shipping Award 2003 was presented to ICGS Vijaya (MMSI 419000400) by Mr. Sanjay Mehta, CEO, Essar Shipping Company Ltd.

3. The sponsoring of SAR award by Essar Shipping Company Ltd., is an initiative in the right direction, Other Companies keen to associate themselves with the SAR awards programme are also welcome. SAR awards for 2004 will be presented during Apr-May 2005.



Address by DDG at Launching Ceremony of FPV

Launching of FPV by Mrs Susheela Paleri

Press Brief by DDG	FPV in Channel After Launch


97^THOSCC MEETING IN PROGRESS