Fishing vessel sinks in sea near Honnavar, 2 missing

The Coast Guard has sent out an lookout alert to all the ships sailing in the vicinity of the area where two fishermen went missing after their boat capsized in Arabian Sea nearly 21 nautical miles off the Honnavar coast in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

The Coast Guard personnel rescued four of the six members of the crew of Angel 1 fishing boat, which sank in the sea. Another boat Angel 2 was stranded as its propeller was fouled. The crew of Angel 2 were safe.

The Coast Guard moved an interceptor vessel to the area after receiving reports from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai that two fishing boats were in distress in Arabian Sea off Honnavar. Two other Coast Guard vessels joined the search and rescue operations later.

“#SAR for fishing boats in distress off #Karnataka coast. #Angel 1 sank , 4 out of 6 crew rescued and heading for #Honnavar. @IndiaCoastGuard ships continue to search for 2 missing crew. Angel 2 stranded due fouled propeller but all crew safe & is at anchor,” the Coast Guard tweeted.

A Coast Guard vessel brought the rescued members of the crew to Honnavar.

“@IndiaCoastGuard transmitted message via automated method (NAVTEX) through #Veraval transmitter for the ships in area to keep sharp lookouts for the 02 missing crew of the ill-fated capsized boat (Angel-1) off #Karnataka coast this morning, while CG ships continue the search ops,” the Coast Guard posted on Twitter.

Deputy Director of Fisheries Department, Santosh Koppad told DH that the four fishermen, who were seriously injured, have been rescued and treated at a hospital in Honnavar. The Coast Guard personnel have launched a search for the two missing fishermen, he added.