MARGAO: Boat owners on Saturday reiterated their demand for a detailed probe into the mid-sea mishap and arrest of the Coast guard captain, even as the kith and kin of the dead crew member have left Odissha for Goa to take possession of the body.
An executive member of the boat owners, Thomas Rodrigues along with the owner of the ill-fated trawler Martin Fernandes on Saturday visited the Goa Shipyard where the Coast Guard ship involved in Thursday’s incident is docked for repairs.
“We have told the Coast Guard officials that the ship captain should have rescued the struggling crew members on humanitarian grounds instead of fleeing from the spot. This attitude from the Coast Guard captain was least expected when their role is protect ships, crew and the coast from the enemies,” Thomas said.
He demanded that the Coast Guard ship should not be commissioned since Thursday’s accident has proved that something was wrong. “The Captain had seen the fishermen struggling in the waters, but he did not respond when the government spends huge money to train these people. This is nothing, but a cowardly act on the part of the captain”, he said, while demanding compensation to the boat owner as well as the kith and kin of the dead and missing crew members.
Meanwhile, trawler owner Martin Fernandes said he has been in constant touch with the families of the missing fishermen hailing from Odissah. “Family members of the deceased fishermen have left for Goa today and are expected to reach here in a day or two”, he said, while calling upon the government to provide adequate compensation not only to him, but the relatives of the dead and missing fishermen.
