Distress Alert Transmitters were given to fishermen at the Collectorate here on Friday in the presence of Commandant Udhal Singh of Indian Coast Guard and Tuticorin Station. Under the initiative of the Coast Guard, the devices were provided through Fisheries Department.
D. Ravichandran, District Revenue Officer, distributed a couple of transmitters on a trial basis. Indian Coast Guard personnel were according top priority to safety of fishermen at sea. Defining its operations, Mr. Udhal Singh said the fishermen could seek the help of Coast Guard authorities at times of distress by pressing buttons available on the transmitter.
The boats should be equipped with such devices to save themselves while engaged in fishing.
Through connectivity of satellite facilities, the whereabouts of the missing vessel could be traced. Due to rough weather conditions, the fishing boats might capsize and the fishermen onboard might fell off.
Hence, the Coast Guard personnel had taken this initiative of distributing the transmitters on an experimental basis to educate them on their importance. Later, more such devices would be given.
