High-Seas Drama Off Porbandar: Indian Coast Guard Airlifts Ailing Seafarer from Merchant Vessel Amid Rough Weather
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) executed a daring high-seas medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) on Sunday, winching a critically ill 21-year-old seafarer to safety from a merchant vessel off the Porbandar coast despite treacherous weather and rough sea conditions.
The swift aerial operation unfolded after the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai flagged an emergency late on the night of July 25 aboard the merchant vessel MT Murlikisan. The young crew member was suffering from acute chest pain and high fever while navigating the waters off Gujarat, requiring urgent medical intervention.
Treacherous Waters Force Aerial Rescuers into Action
Assessing the severe weather patterns brewing off the Gujarat coastline, the Coast Guard District Headquarters-1 in Porbandar initially directed MT Murlikisan to navigate toward the inner anchorage, roughly 2.1 nautical miles off the Porbandar breakwater. Officials quickly determined that a standard ship-to-ship transfer at sea posed too high a risk to both crews due to swells.
When heavy swell and adverse weather prevented the vessel from safely berthing alongside the harbour, commanders dispatched an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) directly from the Coast Guard Air Enclave to execute an aerial winch rescue.
Precision Winch Extraction Saves Young Crew Member
Hovering over the unstable deck of the merchant ship, the ALH aircrew managed to safely winch the 21-year-old seafarer into the aircraft and fly him directly to the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Porbandar.
An ICG medical officer provided immediate emergency stabilization on the tarmac before transferring the patient to Asha Hospital in Porbandar for specialized medical care. Medical authorities confirmed that the seafarer's condition has stabilized following the intervention.
The successful rescue highlights the tight operational coordination between MRCC Mumbai, local commanders, and specialized aircrew, reinforcing the Coast Guard's founding mandate, "Vayam Rakshamah" (We Protect).
