Karunya Marine Ambulance lies idle for over a month at Beypore

Kozhikode: The Karunya Marine Ambulance, operated by the Fisheries Department to assist fishermen along the Malabar coast, has remained out of service for more than a month after its fitness certificate expired. As a result, Beypore Harbour is currently without a dedicated emergency response facility for fishermen in distress at sea.

Officials attribute the delay to lapses by the Kochi-based firm holding the vessel's annual maintenance contract. The marine ambulance, which comes under the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) classification, is required to obtain fitness certification from the Mercantile Marine Wing once every two years. However, the maintenance agency failed to initiate the mandatory procedures within the prescribed timeframe.

Built by Cochin Shipyard at a cost of ₹6.08 crore, the Karunya Marine Ambulance was commissioned at Beypore Harbour in January 2021 to enhance safety for fishery workers along the Malabar coast. The vessel is equipped to accommodate up to ten patients at a time and is operated by a six-member crew, including a captain, an engineer and two nurses. Since its launch, the ambulance has played a crucial role in several rescue and medical evacuation missions.

Since the fitness certificate expired in November this year, the vessel must now be sent to the Cochin Shipyard for maintenance and subjected to IRS inspection. Only upon receiving a renewed fitness certificate will the Karunya Marine Ambulance be able to resume life-saving missions at sea.

 Meanwhile, Fisheries officials informed that the contracting company has been directed to complete the annual maintenance at the earliest and ensure the vessel is presented for IRS examination.