Sri Vijaya Puram June 9: A major maritime incident was narrowly averted when a coordinated rescue operation by the Andaman and Nicobar Command secured a drifting merchant vessel, Fotex, just 10 nautical miles off Battimalv Island. The vessel, adrift due to mechanical failure, posed a significant threat to the fragile marine environment of the region.
According to a report by the Andaman Chronicle, the vessel had been drifting since June 1 after suffering an engine breakdown. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Sri Vijaya Puram received initial alerts as Fotex, en route from Thailand to the UAE with 14 crew members, began moving southwest of the Nicobar Islands. Immediate concerns were raised about the potential environmental impact if the vessel grounded on the ecologically sensitive island chain.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command directed the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters at Sri Vijaya Puram to launch aerial surveillance and instructed the ship’s owners to dispatch a tugboat. However, with no tug available, the vessel continued to drift dangerously toward Car Nicobar, Teressa, and Battimalv Islands, areas marked by MRCC as high-risk due to shifting currents and wind patterns.
The situation escalated on June 4 when Fotex issued a distress call after nearing Battimalv Island. The Indian Coast Guard Ship Vijit, already stationed in the vicinity, was swiftly tasked with the rescue.
Despite adverse weather and sea conditions, the crew of ICGS Vijit demonstrated exceptional seamanship, secured the vessel, and towed it to safety, preventing a potential grounding and ecological disaster.
The successful operation underscored the Indian Coast Guard’s readiness and the Andaman and Nicobar Command’s commitment to maritime safety and environmental protection, ensuring both the safety of the crew and preservation of the region’s delicate marine habitat.
