The distress alert transmitter being distributed to a marine fisherman. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Aug. 11: All sea-worthy vessels in Orissa will soon be equipped with a unique transmitter device developed by the India Space Research Organisation (Isro). The equipment will help the crew tide over the mid-sea distress and exigencies.

To make sea voyages safe and hassle-free, the Coast Guard in collaboration with Orissa’s marine fisheries directorate has distributed the improvised gadgets free of cost to marine fishermen and vessel operators.

The device is known as disaster alert transmitter (DAT). The gadget has round-the-clock satellite link. In cases of emergencies, the crew will easily be able to contact the maritime rescue coordination centre and seek help and guidance.

“Fishermen and vessel operators from Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Puri and Ganjam districts have been brought under the transmitter safety net. Forty-five of them have been given the equipment,” said Coast Guard’s deputy inspector general K.P.S. Raghuvanshi. State fisheries commissioner Satyabrata Sahu was present when the gadgets were distributed.

“The transmitters will serve a dual purpose. Apart from strengthening the coastal security, they will help crews that are in danger,” Raghuvanshi said.

“The Isro-made DATs will strengthen marine safety. Crews would simply have to switch on a button to catch the attention of the coast guard’s maritime rescue coordination centre. Fishermen have also been advised to transmit sighting of any suspicious vessels along the coast through the disaster alert transmitters,” said Ashotosh Behera, commandant, Coast Guard.

The user-friendly transmitter would provide information such as exact global position of the distressed fishing vessel and nature of the distress via satellite image to the Coast Guard’s rescue coordination centre.

The marine wing of the Orissa fisheries department wants to install distress alert transmitters in 650 sea-worthy fishing vessels in the state. The Union agriculture ministry has provided the department with Rs 65 lakh for the purpose. “We have placed the order for procurement of transmitters from Isro,” said Satyabrata Sahu, secretary-cum-commissioner, fisheries and animal husbandry.

Over 2,000 sea-worthy fishing vessels venture into the sea for over 13 nautical miles for fishing. All these vessels will be given the transmitters in a phased manner. Fishermen and vessel operators would be given the transmitters free of cost under the central government scheme, Sahu said.