Coast Guard distributes alert transmitters to fishermen

Port Blair, Feb 01 (PTI) On the occasion of its 34thRaising Day, the Indian Coast Guard today distributed localfishermen five Distress Alert Transmitters (DAT) from which analert could be sent via satellite mentioning a boat''s locationin case of emergency.

Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO), the DAT was a satellite based alert transmitter to beused by fishermen going high seas, Coast Guard CommandantKailash Negi said.

In case of emergency, the fishing boat transmits amessage containing its position and type of emergency to acentralised location, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre,Chennai, through satellite.

MRCC Chennai would then intimate the MRCC concernedfor coordinating rescue operation as per the location of theboat, Negi said.

He said the Coast Guard had distributed 62 DATs during2008-09, while 69 more transmitters were being distributed inthe second phase now.