Thiruvananthapuram: A Rs 6.5-crore marine ambulance stationed at Vizhinjam for deep-sea rescue operations has remained non-functional due to incomplete annual maintenance, raising serious concerns over the preparedness of coastal emergency response systems ahead of monsoon.The vessel, deployed by fisheries department to rescue fisherfolk in distress at sea, has developed multiple technical faults, reportedly after the contractor failed to complete maintenance work on time. Source at the department indicated that issues in the anchoring system caused the vessel to drift, while key systems including the engine, GPS, radar and public announcement system were either damaged or non-operational. The ambulance, designed to bring injured fishermen to shore on stretchers and provide onboard emergency care, is currently tied up at the jetty and remains unusable. Equipment critical to rescue operations, including the stretcher and protective systems meant to prevent impact with the jetty during rough seas, has also been damaged. Despite the scale of the failure, there is no clarity on whether penalties have been imposed on the Mumbai-based contractor entrusted with the annual maintenance. Fisheries officials said instructions have been issued to complete the work urgently, but did not specify a deadline for restoring full functionality. The development has triggered concern among fishing communities, particularly with the monsoon season approaching, when sea conditions turn unpredictable and accidents are more likely. Fishermen point out that the absence of a functional rescue vessel could delay emergency response and put lives at risk. Sources within the department said some cleaning and minor repair work had been carried out following intervention by senior officials, but major technical issues remain unresolved. The vessel had also reportedly accumulated waste in several sections, including operational areas, which had to be cleared. A senior official said the marine ambulance is currently undergoing maintenance and repair work at Vizhinjam dockyard. She said the process is expected to take about one more month, after which the vessel will be back in service. “We are also considering a change of contractor once the ongoing work is completed,” the official added.
