Navy helps distressed Indian trawler return to India

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lanka Navy handed over a distressed Indian fishing trawler, found in Sri Lanka’s waters due to a mechanical failure, to the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Annie Besant at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) on Thursday (28th September 2022). 

The distressed fishing trawler with a ceased engine was spotted by the Sri Lanka Navy about 26 nautical miles (48 Km) off Point Pedro in northern waters.

Reportedly, the fishing trawler ‘Bairavakali’ was on a fishing voyage from Nagapattinam, India on 25th September. 

As the Indian trawler was reported to have swept towards Sri Lanka’s waters due to a mechanical failure on 27th September, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Chennai has disseminated a distress signal to MRCC Colombo in the Navy Headquarters, requesting assistance to locate the trawler.

In response to the request for assistance, the Navy made arrangements to rush P 484 Fast Attack Craft of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla (4 FAF) in the Northern Naval Command to the sea area where the trawler was. Having located it in northern waters of the island, about 26 nautical miles off Point Pedro, the Navy provided food, drink and humanitarian assistance to 09 Indian fishermen who were aboard the distressed trawler.

Meanwhile, P 484 rendered towing assistance to the distressed Indian trawler and handed over it with 09 Indian fishers aboard to ICGS Annie Besant at the IMBL this morning.

Remaining committed to keep with obligations of the international conventions, MRCC Colombo in the Navy Headquarters is constantly ready to provide necessary assistance to the naval and fishing communities in distress in Sri Lanka’s Search and Rescue Region.