Paradip: Expressing concern over sea-worthy vessels not using safety transmitter devices, state marine fisheries department has warned of legal action against the owners of such vessels.

"The department has found the transmitter devices developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) remained largely unused by the crew of the fishing vessels. It is matter of concern as the crews are jeopardising their own safety. So, we are forced to initiate legal action against them," said marine fisheries officer Bharat Bhusan Sahoo.

The devices are vital safety gadgets as they help the crews tide over the mid-sea distress and exigencies. Disaster alert transmitters (DATs) were distributed free to sea-worthy fishing vessels venturing into 13 nautical miles for sea fishing. Equipped with the transmitters, the vessels were thus brought under safety ring. The gadgets are electronically linked with satellite round-the-clock. It was launched in 2012. However the marine fishermen are found not utilising the service of these gadgets, admitted another official.

The coast guard authorities also expressed worry over the trend.

"We rarely receive alert calls from the vessels armed through the DATs, though around 1,300 sea-worthy vessels were provided with these transmitters. So, we are planning to organise awareness campaigns at regular intervals to familiarise the fishermen with the device," said a coast guard personnel.

The user-friendly transmitter could provide meticulous information - such as the exact global positioning system location of the distressed fishing vessel and the nature of the distress - via satellite image to the coast guard's rescue co-ordination centre.

However, the local crews are shying away from DAT use as they are not well accustomed to the operations of the machine. So, they are dependent more on wireless walkie-talkie sets for message transmission. They transmit the message to fishing harbour or fishing jetties. The office-bearers of harbour and jetties then alert the coast guard and marine police through cell phones, said another official.