Coast Guard distributes DAT units free of cost

Coast Guard distributes DAT units free of cost

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 31: The Indian Coast Guard distributed Distress Alert Transponders (DAT) to fishing vessels at a special function held at the Trawl Boat Fishermen Primary Cooperative Association at Mangalore Old Port on Monday.

 

 

The DAT kits were distributed among 30 fishermen free of cost by Coast Guard Chief Commandant R. K. Sharma. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has given 100 DAT kits of which 70 have already been distributed free of cost among fishermen. 

He said that the DAT, which is based on the Indian National Satellite System, can be used to transmit messages with location in cases of emergencies to the Coast Guard’s central hub station through INSAT transponder for quick rescue. 

Speaking further, he said that the DAT can be installed in boats and other vehicles, and in cases of emergency, the fishermen only have to switch it on and press switches corresponding to the nature of the emergency, such as medical aid, sinking ship, fire, and so on. The DAT combines the distress message and boat position obtained through GPS and transmits the information to a Coast Guard central hub station. This will enable the Coast Guard to rush to the rescue in no time, he added. 

He further said that the DAT will keep repeating the message for the first five minutes and then every five minutes till someone switches it off or its battery goes dead. 

Suresh Kumar, the deputy director of the fisheries department; Mukund Nayak, the inspector of the Coastal Security; and others were also present.