After tragedies at sea, A.P. strengthens tracking of fishing vessels
The Andhra Pradesh Fisheries Department is overhauling safety protocols by changing boat hull colors to high-visibility orange to aid search and rescue. The state is also addressing issues with fishermen disabling transponders, which hinders maritime tracking and safety.
Why it matters
Improved maritime safety protocols are essential for reducing fatalities during search and rescue operations along the coast.
The State Fisheries Department has initiated a comprehensive policy overhaul aimed at enhancing coastal security, modernising tracking infrastructure, and minimising risks for fishermen operating along the Andhra Pradesh coastline.
The administrative push follows recent maritime accidents that exposed critical vulnerabilities in safety protocols and vessel visibility during search and rescue operations.
As part of the overhaul, officials plan to replace the conventional blue-coloured lower hull of fishing boats with a high-visibility orange colour.
Recent marine investigations near Gangavaram Port revealed that when vessels capsize in rough weather, the blue coloured hull remains exposed and blends with the deep blue seawater, severely limiting the ability of aerial and surface search teams to locate the vessel.
Officials said that the the yellow and blue colour-coding scheme was established more than 15 years ago to identify regional registries following security concerns that emerged after the Mumbai terror attacks.
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