KOCHI: A fishing boat sank in the shipping channel between Vypeen and Fort Kochi on Tuesday morning. All six fishermen on board the vessel have been rescued.
Efforts are on to salvage the boat from the channel using a crane deployed by the Cochin Port Trust.
The mishap occurred when the fishing boat 'Neethiman', which developed a crack in its hull, was being towed to the harbour using a boat deployed for rescue operation by the Marine Enforcement.
The ship owned by Yesudas, of Alappuzha, set out to sea from Kochi around 6 am. As per the information received, the boat drifted out of control around five nautical miles off Kochi coast.
Following a distress call received from the vessel, the Marine Enforcement deployed a rescue boat.
"It is suspected there was a major crack in the hull of the vessel, causing water to enter the engine room," said Shibu Kumar C I of the Marine Enforcement. Port Trust has also sought the assistance of the Navy to identify the exact location and depth of the fishing vessel. ''Based on a request from the harbour master, Navy has started efforts to identify the exact location and depth of the sunken boat,'' Navy spokesperson said.
Earlier mishaps
Eight fishing vessels anchored at Thoppumpady fishing harbour drifted away when the rope used to moor them slipped. Two fishermen were rescued by the security agencies
A fishing vessel which was being towed to the harbour collided with a ferry. There was no lighting on the rope indicating a boat was being towed. However, no one was injured as the boat was moving slowly.