THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Top Coast Guard officers on Tuesday underlined the need for adopting safety measures to avoid further tragedies at sea in the wake of the Ockhi cyclone disaster and the upcoming southwest monsoon. Addressing a special seminar on Search and Rescue organised by the Coast Guard DIG Sanatan Jena, Commander ICG (Kerala and Mahe), said adoption of such safety measures has assumed importance in the wake of the recent Ockhi cyclone disaster and the forthcoming southwest monsoons.
He also sought the cooperation of fishermen to keep the maritime areas safe and provide a safe environment for fishermen. Jena also assured fishermen of all support in tackling contingencies at sea.
Subrata Biswas, Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Vigilance), who inaugurated the workshop urged fishermen to include safety equipment in their boats. Unlike the western coast, eastern boarder states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa are better prepared for tackling weather-related crisis in the Bay of Bengal due to the frequency of such incidents, he said.
The workshop highlighted the preventive measures need to be taken by fishermen when venturing out to sea. The aim of the seminar was to educate the common fishermen on safety requirements and safety procedures at sea, a defence spokesperson said. An exhibition of safety equipment such as life rafts, search and rescue transponders (SART), beacons, emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB) and distress alert transmitters (DAT) also was held alongside the seminar.
About 175 personnel, including fishermen and personnel from Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement and Fire and Rescue and Fisheries Department attended the seminar. Coast Guard (Vizhinjam station) Commandant V K Varghese, Deputy Commandant George Baby and other officers from ICG Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi units were present.