TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: There is good news in store for fishing vessels in distress while fishing in the deep sea.
Under a centrally sponsored ‘Safety of Fishermen at Sea’ scheme, fishing vessels will now be fitted with a tracking and safety device, enhancing the ability to render assistance in times of emergency.
Says Director of Fisheries Dr Sharmila Monteiro, “The system works under a SIM/SIMLESS situation. As long as the vessel is within the SIM coverage, the vessel along with its crew can be monitored for their safety. When in SIM coverage, the system has an emergency button which needs to be activated, which send alert signals both to the department as well as the vessel owner, enhancing the ability to render assistance.”
She said once the vessel is found outside the SIM coverage, the alternate beacon system can be activated which sends dedicated 406 MHz and GPS signals to the world wide emergency satellite system, COSPAS SARSAT. “406 MHz works where cell phones don’t. GPS pinpoints the position in distress to carry search and rescue within minutes. The units are registered with ISRO with an Unique Identification No and this in turn get assistance from the coastal police or the Coast Guard as per the jurisdiction when activated,” she said.
Megasoft Systems had developed the official platform for the tracking of vessels within SIM coverage and are also setting up the control room for the department of Fisheries.
Dr Monteiro, however, sounded a word of caution. At a function held at the Cutbona Fishing jetty on Thursday morning, Monteiro made a plea to the boat owners to educate the workers employed on the vessels to use the distress signal only in times of emergency. “Any hoax call would result in a loss of time and energy in mobilising men and machinery to gear for the rescue mission”, she said.
Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva, who handed over the subsidised devices to the boat owners, underlined the need for safety mechanism for the crew employed on the vessels. He said that the Fisheries Minister has made safety of fishermen a top priority by ensuring that all vessels are fitted with the device to ensure safety of life and property.
