Coast Guard has distributed 30 distress alert transmitters (DAT) to fishermen of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Villupuram districts.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed these transmitters, which will be of great help to fishing boats operating away from the coast.
Using DAT, the fishermen can convey distress or emergency situation such as fire on boat, hijacking or drowning of crew or illness by pressing a button. The information will be conveyed through satellite to Coast Guard authorities in Chennai, stated a release.
The Coast Guard has advised mechanised boatmen operating in deep sea out of VHF and mobile phone range to carry at least one DAT for every group of boats.
K.P.P. Sami, Minister for Fisheries, and IG S.P. Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region (East), presented the transmitters to the fishermen at a function on Monday. Coast Guard, with assistance from the Fisheries Department, is distributing the DATs free as part of safety measures for fishermen.
DATs will be distributed at CG stations in Mandapam, Thoothukudi and Puducherry, the release said.
