Kerala govt launches three marine ambulances

The marine ambulances with ultra-modern facilities were launched at the total cost of Rs 18.24 crores by Kerala government. The ambulances are of 23 metres length, 5.5 metres width and 3 metres depth. Upto ten persons who are in danger in the sea can be brought to the coast safely, at a time. Medical equipment and medicines to facilitate first aids and primary care are all set in the marine ambulances, besides mortuary.

Ernakulam/Alappuzha: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates 'Pratheeksha' the first fully equipped marine ambulance through video conferencing.

The other two, named Prathyasha and Karunya respectively, were floated out in a function held at the Cochin Shipyard on August 27.

The three marine ambulances with ultra-modern facilities were constructed at the total cost of Rs 18.24 crores by the Kerala government.

Kerala Minister for Fisheries J Mercykutty Amma and Fisheries Department Secretary Tinku Biswal participated in the float out ceremony.

The services of Pratheeksha, Prathyasha and Karunya would be made available in the coastal zones of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode respectively.

Earlier, the absence of Marine ambulances had severely affected the rescue operations during the Ockhi disaster. Following this, the state government had taken a special interest in facilitating marine ambulances in preparedness for emergency situations and decided on making three modern marine ambulances.

The ambulances are of 23 metres length, 5.5 metres width and 3 metres depth. The technical support was provided by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology.

With the help of these marine ambulances, upto ten persons who are in danger in the sea can be brought to the coast safely, at a time. Medical equipment and medicines to facilitate first aids and primary care are all set in the marine ambulances, besides mortuary.

The service of paramedical staff and specially trained Sea Rescue Squad personnel will be available in the ambulances round the clock. The services of the technical staff for the ambulance is entrusted with the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation.

One marine ambulance boat costs Rs 6.08 crores. The project listed under the Ockhi rehabilitation package thus received funds of Rs 7.36 crores from the Chief Ministers Disaster Relief Fund and 2 crores from the Fisheries department’s Plan fund.

The making cost of one marine ambulance is fully borne by Bharath Petroleum Corporation. Half the cost of another ambulance will is borne by the Corporate Social Responsibility Funds of the Cochin Shipyard.