23 trapped in stranded barge near Ullal rescued

It was damaged after hitting a reef on Saturday

Challenging task: Efforts under way to rescue the crew of the barge near the Ullal coast on Saturday.

The Indian Coast Guard with assistance of the Karnataka Coastal Security Police and a local team of swimmers on Sunday morning rescued all 27 crew members trapped in barge IBIS . The barge was damaged after hitting a reef near Mangaluru’s Ullal Coast on Saturday.

After rescuing four persons on Saturday evening, the crew of Indian Coast Guard vessel Amartya suspended rescue operation owing to poor light and rough sea. The coast guard resumed operations at 5.45 a.m., and by 9 a.m., the remaining 23 members of IBIS were brought to Amartya that was anchored 1.5 nautical miles away. Amartya then sailed to New Mangalore Port around 10.30 a.m.

Members of the Mumbai-based

IBIS were assigned the task to build a portion of the reef to strengthen the seashore under the Asian Development Bank-funded Sustainable Coastal Protection Management and Development Programme.

Terming the operation challenging, DIG and Commander of Coast Guard Karnataka S.S. Dasila told reporters that rescue personnel had to brave strong winds and rough sea.

Following alert at 4.45 p.m. on Saturday, Coast Guard district operational officer Praveen Kumar Jaswal said Amartya was diverted from Surathkal for the rescue. As the water near the barge was not deep enough, Amartya could not venture closer and had to anchor 1.5 nautical miles away.