MIRA BHAYANDAR: A fishing boat (trawler) from Uttan suffered severe damage after a private cargo vessel collided with it on the night of Feb 28. Such was the impact that two fishermen were thrown in the sea and were rescued by their colleagues.
This incident happened around 5:30 in the morning in which one fisherman received an injury on his hand and was treated.
The Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti has demanded action against the private cargo vessel and also immediate release of funds to the owners of the damaged trawler.
Godwin Vasaikar, who was thrown off the boat Swargdeep (IND-MH-1-MM-9691) post collision said that, “Around 5:15am a cargo vessel collided with our boat and we two were thrown off the boat”.
A part of the vessel was stuck with our boat and it took a lot of time for it to loosen and unattach itself, he added. He also confirmed that it took his team sometime to find them in the dark as they were swept away some distance due to strong tides.
The cargo vessel has been identified as Advaita Mumbai (IMO 9881639) which collided with the fishing boat as per the press release of the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti.
The fishermen onboard said that this fishing boat belonged to 18 of them and now 18 families have no other option of livelihood as this boat is damaged beyond any use without repairs.
They demanded immediate assistance of 30 lakhs to carry out repair works. Another fisherman added that it takes around a crore to build such a fishing boat and people contribute and work as a team on one boat.
The cargo vessels should have their own dedicated lanes and shouldnt enter the fishing arena, as it makes the catch more difficult, said Bernard D’Mello, Executive Chairman of the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti.
I have visited the spot and conducted the panchanama and shall submit all the details to the assistant commissioner of fisheries, Thane & Palghar for further processing: Pawan Kale, Assistant Fisheries Development Officer (Licensing, Uttan, Thane).
