- IFB Parameshwari suffers critical hull damage and engine-room flooding 32 nautical miles west of Jakhau
- ICG Ship Apoorva races to distress position as adverse weather raises the stakes
- All seven crew members rescued safely and brought to Jakhau Harbour
- Swift maritime response underscores Coast Guard’s life-saving role along Gujarat’s vulnerable coastline
NE DEFENCE BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, SEPT 26
The sea had turned into a race against time: a fishing boat 32 nautical miles off Jakhau was battling critical hull damage and flooding in its engine compartment, while seven crew members faced an escalating maritime emergency. The distress call triggered a swift response from the Indian Coast Guard, whose ship Apoorva reached the stricken vessel and rescued all seven crew members despite adverse weather conditions.
The rescue operation was mounted on September 25, after Indian Fishing Boat (IFB) Parameshwari reported distress while operating off the Gujarat coast.
The fishing vessel had sustained critical damage to its hull, accompanied by flooding in the engine compartment, placing both the vessel and its crew in a potentially dangerous situation.
32 NM off Jakhau: The race to save seven
On receiving the distress information, ICG Ship Apoorva was diverted to the location.
The Coast Guard team battled adverse weather conditions to reach the distressed fishing boat and safely evacuate all seven crew members.
The rescued fishermen were subsequently brought to Jakhau Harbour on September 26, where they were reported to be in stable condition.
The operation once again demonstrated the importance of rapid communication, maritime surveillance and the availability of Coast Guard assets along Gujarat’s extensive coastline, where fishing vessels routinely operate in challenging sea conditions.
A boat in trouble, a crew in danger
The severity of the incident lay not merely in the distance from the coast but in the combination of hull damage and engine-compartment flooding.
A compromised hull can rapidly worsen in rough sea conditions, while flooding around the engine compartment can threaten propulsion and stability. For fishermen at sea, the loss of propulsion can sharply increase vulnerability when weather conditions deteriorate.
The timely arrival of the Coast Guard ship therefore turned a potentially dangerous situation into a successful rescue.
Coast Guard’s life-saving mandate
The Indian Coast Guard routinely undertakes search-and-rescue missions involving fishing boats and other vessels in distress, including incidents involving flooding, fire, mechanical failure and persons in the water. Its official records document multiple such operations in which Coast Guard ships have diverted from patrol duties to rescue fishermen and provide assistance to distressed vessels.
The Parameshwari rescue reinforces that operational mandate along the Gujarat coast: when a distress call comes from the sea, the Coast Guard’s response can become the critical link between danger and survival.
Seven safe—the mission that mattered
For the seven crew members of IFB Parameshwari, the immediate priority was survival. With the vessel suffering serious damage and flooding, the successful evacuation ensured that the maritime emergency did not turn into a tragedy.
The crew’s safe arrival at Jakhau Harbour on September 26 brought the operation to a successful conclusion.
The message from the operation is stark and simple: at sea, minutes matter, weather matters and preparedness matters—but when lives are at risk, a timely Coast Guard response can make all the difference.
