MRCC Port Blair Successfully Coordinates Rescue of 3540 Precious Lives at Sea Since its Inception

Port Blair, June 28: Indian Coast Guard is the nodal agency for co-ordinating and conducting maritime SAR missions in India. Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Port Blair has been proactively coordinating and providing Search & Rescue coverage to all vessels including fishing boats and dinghies operating in the A&N Sea.

Since inception in the year 2004, MRCC Port Blair has coordinated rescue of 3540 precious lives as sea. To add to the welfare and safety of fishing community of the islands, Coast Guard has set up a dedicated toll free helpline number 1554 to report the nature of distress and type of assistance required. The SAR emergency toll free number 1554 has proved its importance as 90% of distress calls made by the fishermen were received on this toll free number. The caller does not get charged for the calls made and it connects the person in distress to nearest MRCC even if the person has a zero balance in his account. Calls can be made even from mobile phones at sea to this number. This number is monitored 24x7 at MRCC Port Blair and on receipt of distress, immediate assistance is coordinated by this Centre.

After the advancement of monsoon, considering the prevailing weather conditions and sea state, there can be cases of fishermen missing at sea. During any such instances this number can be utilized for intimating Coast Guard and thereby assisting the fishermen in distress by initiating a swift Search and Rescue mission for locating the fishing boat.