Braving the rough seas and strong wind conditions, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Agrim and an ICG helicopter rescued five crew members, including foreigners from a distressed Switzerland-flag yacht Porrima, at Mandwa in Alibaug. The ICG officials on Friday said that the crew is safe and has been shifted to a hospital for medical check-up.
The yacht, on its passage from UAE to the Maldives, arrived off Mandwa for shelter on June 28, to undertake necessary repairs for continuing its voyage. In the dark hours of Friday, the yacht raised a mayday request due to a fire in its battery compartment. The ICG immediately responded to the SOS call and diverted the fast patrol vessel ICGS Agrim for the rescue operation.
The ICG ship arrived in the vicinity of the yacht within an hour, while braving the heavy weather. The vessel drifted towards shallow water and reported heavy flooding along with fire on board, but by that time the ICG vessel got there.
Considering the imminent threat of the yacht sinking and the proximity of shallow water along with inclement weather, the ICG coordinated with the Juhu airfield and launched an ICG Helo at first light on Friday.
An official said, “ICGS Agrim constantly maintained its position in the vicinity of the yacht to motivate the crew and render necessary guidance for emergency evacuation by the ICG Helo. The crew of five, including four foreign nationals, were successfully rescued in a short span of time,” the official said.
