KOCHI:While incidents of ships colliding with fishing boats causing concern among fishermen, officers with the Mercantile Marine Department and Fisheries Department opine that there is a
need to improve safety features and ensure the safety of fishermen at sea.
“There is a pattern in these midsea collisions. The Government of India has ensured the safety of fishermen at sea in the Nation policy on marine fisheries. These steps should be implemented. The ships have to alert the fishing vessels in its course to avoid collision. Though merchant vessels proceeding to international destinations do not have to move closer to the shore, many vessels enter the coastal sea illegally to facilitate their Indian crew to use their mobile phones. The government should initiate action against the ships violating the norms,” said Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikyavedi president Charles George.
However, officers with the Mercantile Marine Department said Mayuree Naree, the Thailand registered ship that collided with Divine, the traditional fishing canoe, did not enter Kerala’s coastal sea.
“The ship was proceeding in the international waters 18 km off the coast and the traditional fishermen had entered international waters though they were supposed to fish only within 12 km from the shore. The accident occurred when the fishermen were resting and they didn’t notice the approaching ship. The ship crew also failed to alert the men in the boat. The ship was on its way from Gujarat to Paradip in Odisha and we have directed the captain to report at the nearest port,” said an officer with the Mercantile Marine Department.
The Fisheries Department inspected the boat on Monday and found it completely damaged. The fishermen also lost their fishing gear.“We have informed the Directorate General of fishing and the Mercantile Marine Department. The coastal police have registered a case and we will help the fishermen fight the case legally. A petition will be filed before the Kerala High Court within two days. The fishing boat is completely damaged and the loss is pegged at around Rs 20 lakh. The fishermen are eligible for compensation but we are not sure how much amount they will get,” said Fisheries Department Assistant Director K K Lajid.
As per the operating guidelines issued by the International Maritime Organisation for ships operating in international routes, the captain of the ship should alert and issue a warning to the fishing vessels crossing the path of the ship. There is a helmsman in the ship who will be monitoring the course of the ship. If he sees a boat on the course of the ship he has to alert the captain. The captain should blow fog horn and if there is no response fire warning shots to alert the people in the boat. If the boat doesn’t move out of the path the captain should use water cannon to alert the boat driver. But the ships involved in the recent incidents of midsea collision didn’t follow these guidelines, said the leader of a fishermen organisation.
“Most of the crew members of these ships will be Indians. They steer the ship close to the coast to use their mobile phones,” said Charles George.
Incidents
2017 January: Seven injured after a ship collided with a fishing boat 65 nm off Kochi
2017 June: Three dead, 11 injured when Panama-flagged merchant vessel Amber L hit a fishing boat Carmel Matha 14 nautical miles off Kochi coast
2017 August: A Hong Kong-flagged ship collided with a fishing boat Arockia Annai, 39 nm off Kollam coast
2017 October: Unidentified ship rammed a fishing vessel, 19 nm off Colachel
2017 October: Unidentified merchant ship rammed fishing boat Immanuel, 50 nm off Beypore
2018 January: Unidentified ship hit fishing vessel Nelson off Kanyakumari coast