Fisheries Department Intervenes to Rescue Sri Lankan Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels Affected by Technical Failures
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has stated that it is directly intervening in operations related to the safety and recovery of several Sri Lankan multi-day fishing vessels that encountered technical failures and accidents in deep-sea waters.
Director General Susantha Kahawatta released the following details based on data received through the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS):
IMULA 1388 MTR Vessel
The IMULA 1388 MTR vessel, which is currently drifting near Indonesian waters due to a technical malfunction, is being assisted by another vessel owned by the same operator, IMULA 1112 TLE. The rescue vessel departed on May 14 and is expected to reach the affected vessel within the next 24 hours in order to tow it back safely to shore.
0700 GLE Vessel
Fishermen aboard the abandoned 0700 GLE vessel, which met with an accident at sea, have all been safely rescued by the 1034 GLE vessel. Authorities confirmed that the rescued fishermen are currently continuing fishing activities aboard the rescue vessel.
0181 TCO Vessel
The 0181 TCO vessel, which suffered a technical breakdown, is currently being towed toward the Port of Galle by the 1907 MTR vessel. The vessels are reported to be approximately 120 nautical miles away from Galle at present.
Further commenting on the matter, Susantha Kahawatta pointed out that recovering vessels stranded in international waters is an extremely costly and time-consuming operation.
He urged all vessel owners to ensure the technical soundness of their boats before departing for fishing activities.
“Only properly maintained and technically sound vessels should be sent to sea. This is essential to minimizing such accidents and ensuring both the safety of fishermen’s lives and the protection of vessel owners’ property,” he emphasized.
