Indian Coast Guard rescues 31 fishermen from distressed boat in Arabian Sea

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on October 25, 2025, rescued 31 fishermen from a distressed fishing boat IFB (Indian Fishing Boat) Sant Anton-I which was adrift in the Arabian Sea, approximately 100 nautical miles off New Mangaluru, for 11 days due to a steering gear failure.

Karnataka unit of the Coast Guard headquartered in Mangaluru launched a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation after receiving information on Friday (October 24), about the missing vessel which was based in Goa. The fishing boat was last reported approximately 100 nautical miles off New Mangaluru, the Coast Guard said in a release on Sunday (October 26, 2025).

Sea-air rescue

Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Kasturba Gandhi, which was on routine patrol, was immediately diverted to the last known position of the distressed vessel. Simultaneously, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft from Kochi was tasked for aerial search to locate the missing boat, which had drifted significantly due to adverse weather conditions.

“Leveraging integrated operations centre and real time weather data, the Coast Guard plotted the probable drift and directed the ship to the updated location. The Dornier aircraft successfully sighted the fishing boat on October 25, enabling ICGS Kasturba Gandhi to reach the spot and provide critical assistance, including logistics support, damage assessment, and on-site repair of the steering system and ensuring watertight integrity of the IFB,” the release said.

After stabilising the vessel, the Coast Guard ship handed over the distress IFB Sant Anton-I to another IFB to be towed safely to Honnavar fishing harbour, in Uttara Kannada district, ensuring the well being of all 31 crew members onboard.

“This swift and coordinated sea-air rescue operation, executed under challenging weather conditions, underscores the Indian Coast Guard’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding lives and ensuring safety at sea,” the release added.