KOCHI: It is the sole lifeline for fishermen stranded at sea. Yet, the Marine Enforcement Wing is struggling to stay afloat after being caught in the tentacles of red tape and official apathy. It has not been provided with proper infrastructure to conduct rescue operations and its demand for a much-needed Marine Ambulance is still trapped in the file. According to officers in the Fisheries Department, the Marine Enforcement Wing is the sole agency conducting the most number of rescue operations in high sea, especially during the monsoon season.
In June and July this year, the department rescued as many as 1,326 fishermen in various operation. However, most of the attempts were carried out using rented fishing vessels. "During each trawling ban season, the department takes fishing boats with high power engines on lease for rescue operations," an officer told Express. "It is only due to the willpower of the officers high sea rescue operations are carried out. The department has been provided safety gear, but it has no proper vessel to carry out rescue operations."
Five years ago, the department had submitted a proposal to procure a Marine Ambulance, said the officer. The vessel will have the facility to lift and tow stranded vessels as well as provisions to tend to injured/sick fishermen. "However, no steps have been taken to procure the boat yet. The proposal is submitted to the government frequently, but it remains in the file.
This year again, the proposal was submitted to the authorities. We hope the tender procedures will be completed soon," he said. Even though Coastal Police have been formed for similar operations, the unit also has no proper boats to be pressed into difficult operations in high seas. The agencies have to depend on other fishing vessels to tow the stranded vessels to shore.