Kerala Launches Its First Marine Ambulance Services
Kerala Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the State’s First fully equipped Marine Ambulance ‘Pratheeksha’. It was acquired by the Fisheries Department at Kochi for rescue operations at sea. ‘Pratheeksha’ – built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) is the first of the three marine ambulances ordered by the state at a total cost of Rs.18.24 Crores. The Other 2 ships are ‘Prathyasha’ and ‘Karunya’.
Crewed by paramedics and medical technicians, marine ambulances have been launched to respond to accidents at sea or on vessels by enabling life-saving and stabilizing treatment to commence as soon as a patient is on board and to be continued as the vessel speeds towards land.
The boats have the facility to provide medical assistance to 10 people at a time. This will help provide first aid to rescued fishermen and shift them to shore as soon as possible. Each boat will have four sea rescue guards, paramedical staff, emergency medicines and a mortuary. Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation will appoint trained technical staff in the boats.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) came forward to bear the cost of one ambulance, Cochin Shipyard agreed to provide 3 crores from its CSR fund, 7.36 crore was sanctioned from Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund and the fisheries department sanctioned 2 crores from the plan fund.
The boat has been designed by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology as per the specifications of Indian Registry of Shipping.