Fishing vessels make trips by passenger, tourist boats risky in Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi: Fishing vessels are again posing a danger to passenger and tourist boats in Fort Kochi by arriving at Kamalakadavu for filling fuel and changing crew.

Fishing boats have already crashed into the tourist boat jetty here twice in the recent past, causing severe damage. A Chinese fishing net was also destroyed by a fishing boat which rammed it.

Incidentally, the District Collector had issued an order banning fishing boats from docking at Kamalakadavu in 2015 after an incident where 11 people were killed after a fishing vessel which lost control hit a passenger boat. Local people alleged that this order was being violated now. Some fishing boats moored in the area were also found floating without control recently after the ropes to secure them came loose.

Around 10 fishing boats are moored near the petrol pump at Kamalakadavu, said residents.