Cable Ship Rescues 14 Fishermen near Mumbai
The crew deployed on the C.S. Dependable, a transoceanic cable ship from TE SubCom, rescued 14 fisherman in the Arabian Sea off the Maharashtra Coast near Mumbai, India.
Indian fishing boat FV Datta Sai sank on September 17 with 16 persons aboard, no personal floatation devices and no VHF radio. The C.S. Dependable, in transit between work sites, came across the fisherman clinging to floating debris and treading water, and all hands were called to enact an immediate water rescue.
“This was a complicated and dangerous effort that required excellent communication and everyone’s commitment to this rescue, as I had to maneuver the ship to keep the men in the water away from thrusters,” said Captain Yann Durieux, Master, C.S. Dependable, TE SubCom. “Everyone in the crew contributed, whether it was throwing life-rings to the men in the water, pulling survivors onto our ship, or bringing them blankets and food and tending to their needs. I am proud to have worked with all persons aboard. They should all be commended for their efforts.”
All hands were on deck as the crew spread out on weather decks, the bow, stern, gangways and bridge. Some served as lookouts calling out survivor sightings and others threw life-rings into the water as the captain moved the ship toward each survivor and security team members secured in harnesses pulled men out of the water. After recovering 14 survivors from the sea, TE SubCom’s C.S. Dependable then had to transfer the men to an Indian Coast Guard vessel while fighting intermittent squalls. The Coast Guard vessel recovered one additional survivor and one deceased fisherman.
James Herron, who runs maritime operations for TE SubCom, commented, “Everyone at TE Connectivity is proud of the crew and their heroic efforts. Our ship, which clearly lived up to its namesake ‘Dependable,’ is designed to bring the world together by installing undersea cable, so it’s very satisfying to hear that the crew under the leadership of Captain Durieux took this mission a step further to save 14 lives in distress. We only wish we could have saved all 16, but we’re very grateful that our ship was in the area and was able to help our fellow seafarers.”
