Okha: Two fishing boats collided in shallow waters near Samiyani island off Okha coast n Gujarat owing to which Indian Coast guard was called in for assistance however all the 13 crew of the two boats were safe.

A coastguard official today said that an information about the collision of two Indian Fishing Boats were reported by Fisheries department yesterday. The Coast Guard on ascertaining details activated their search and rescue network. It was later established that an Indian fishing boat named IFB Vaman Dev due to machinery failure had asked towing assistance from IFB Tulsi-I. While towing, IFB Tulsi also lost propulsion due to entangling of fishing nets in her propeller and both the boats collided and grounded off Smaiyani Island around 1.5 nautical mile away from Okha jetty. A Coast Guard Hovercraft was diverted immediately to render assistance to the crew of these boats stranded in the shallow waters.

He said, ”on arriving at the scene of rescue, the aground boats were noticed with damaged hull. The total 13 crew were found safe. With the assistance of local port authorities and fishermen the stranded people and the debris were shifted when the tide receded.”

DeshGujarat