Three fishermen escape after cargo ship rams fishing vessel

Second incident in one month raises safety concern among fishermen along Chennai coast

Chennai:

Three fishermen escaped miraculously after a cargo ship collided with a fishing boat in a second such incident in the Chennai coast the last one month highlighting the lack of safety mechanisms to ensure the safety of fishermen.

The incident happened last night when Sundar, Elumalai and Bhaskar were fishing 11 Km away from the fishing harbour in their fibre boat when a cargo ship hit their vessel opposite Ashok Leyland near Ennore.

Twenty-eight year Elumalai said that the impact was such that the vessel broke to pieces and two of us clung to the remains of the boat and trying to rescue other fisherman. Unfortunately, the piece of the boat to which the fishermen clung gave away as it could not bear the weight of rescued fisherman.

“We were on the verge of death but help came from a nearby fishing boat which was less than a kilometer away. For nearly 30 minutes battling in the sea, fishermen in a fibreboat heard our cries for help and pointed the torch light towards our direction. “They later rescued us,” said Elumalai.

“We suffered some injuries during the accident and escaped miraculously. Had it been for few more minutes, we would have met a watery grave,” he said.

The incident has raised concern among the fishing community over safety while fishing along the Chennai coast. M D Dayalan, president of Indian Fishermen Association said that there is an urgent need for the Union Shipping Ministry, Chennai Port, Coast Guard and Ennore Port authorities to ensure the safety of fishermen.

Dayalan said that there is a need for the officials to work out a mechanism where in such incidents are prevented. “The officials can bring in a mechanism where in they can identify a stretch like a marine highway only meant for cargo ship. This will help fishermen know exactly where they can fish which would ensure safety of their life,” he said.

The fishermen also demanded that the state government should work out a mechanism to have a police station which could register all mid-sea incidents. “The biggest challenge for the fishermen is that after the accident, one has to run helter and skelter to register the complaint with policemen diverting them to different police stations,” the fishermen added. Dayalan said the complaint was only filed in the evening at harbour police station.

Interestingly, neither the Coast Guard nor Chennai Port officials are aware of the incident. Harbour Police Inspector K Ramalingam told Express that a case was registered against the vessel under section 279(Rash driving or riding on a public way.-- Whoever drives any vehicle, or rides, on any public way in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person) and 337(Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others.-- Whoever causes hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or the personal safety of others) of Indian Penal Code(IPC).  Further investigations are on.