Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Monday, 16 January 2023, rescued five missing and two injured crew members of Indian Fishing Boat (IFB) “Jay Bhole” in Arabian Sea, 50 km off Porbandar coast, in an efficient Sea Air coordinated effort. ICG Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Porbandar got a distress alarm about a fire aboard IFB Jay Bhole at around 09:45.
The boat was reportedly 50 kilometres off the coast of Porbandar. Immediately in response, the ICG District Headquarters in Porbandar diverted its Interceptor Class Ships C-161 and C-156 towards datum. Additionally, one Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) was launched from Porbandar’s ICG Air Station. The ICG Ships moved quickly toward the location and arrived at the datum around 10:20 AM. When the crew failed to put out the fire, it was discovered that they had abandoned the boat when they arrived at datum. Five of the seven crew members were missing, and two were saved by a dinghy boat that was nearby. All five of the missing crew members were later located and flown to safety by ICG helicopter following a laborious sea and air coordinated effort that lasted around two hours. At 1:00 PM, all five crew members were taken to Porbandar. One of the two crew members who were saved by dinghy boat had suffered serious injuries. The hurt crew members were transported aboard ICG ship C-161. The crew was taken to Porbandar for additional treatment after receiving first medical attention at sea from the ICG team.
It is important to note that ICG has saved more than 60 lives at sea in the Gujarat Region over the past eight months.