Coast Guard ship rescues fishing vessel stranded off Malpe in Karnataka

MANGALORE: Indian Coast Guard Ship Savitribai Phule on Friday rescued a fishing vessel that had broken down some 10 nautical miles off Malpe on the high seas with an engine breakdown. The Coast Guard authorities here received a message from deputy director, department of fisheries around 10am that the fishing vessel Ashlesha was stranded off Malpe and that lives of its seven member crew was in danger, Rajender Singh Sapal, commandant, Coast Guard said.
ICGS Savitribai Phule patrolling at sea for search and rescue (SAR) of missing fishermen off Bengre was diverted to proceed to Malpe for the SAR mission.ICGS Savitribai Phule that reached the area at 2pm carried out a search to locate the boat and was successful in locating the fishing boat with all the crew on board an hour later. The boat crew reported that the boat had an engine breakdown and was stranded since Thursday, Sapal said.
The crew was found in healthy condition and was happy to be rescued. ICGS Savitribai Phule was then taken in tow to off Malpe fishing harbour. The owner of the boat was contacted, who in turn arranged a fishing boat to take the rescued fishing vessel inside Malpe harbour as ICGS Savitribai Phule cannot enter the harbour due to shallow depths. Sapal said Coast Guard ship carried out the operation despite rough seas, high wind speed and heavy swell.