Andaman provides Distress Alert Transmitters to fishermen

Port Blair, May 02 (UNI) The fishermen of Andaman and Nicobar Islands will now feel safer in case of any crisis in sea as they were provided with Distress Alert Transmitters (DAT) today.

The transmitter, low cost emergency alert instruments designed and developed indigenously by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), has a battery and is fitted to the fishing boat and on activation coordinates the boat under the global positioning system (GPS) to the Coast Guard regional headquarters.

Distress alerts will be picked up by an INSAT-satellite and relayed to the reception centre at the Indian Coast Guard's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Port Blair.

Situations like medical emergency, fire on board, sinking or capture of boats can be reported to authorities on shore for immediate action, an official release said.

At a simple function held under the aegis of Indian Coast Guard, A&N Region at Raj Niwas, Lt Governor Lt General(Retd.) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM, handed over three transmitters one each to fishermen belonging to south, middle&north Andaman and Car Nicobar.Speaking on the occasion, the Lt. Governor appreciated Indian Coast Guard for providing the important instruments to the fishermen, which would be helpful to alert the Coast Guard authorities during distress and help save precious lives.

UNI SKR KK RN1915