State’s first boat ambulance service launched at sea off Mangaluru

State’s first boat ambulance service launched at sea off Mangaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 5, 2026: Ambulances racing through roads with blaring sirens to save lives during road accidents or medical emergencies are a common sight. However, when accidents occur in the middle of the sea, the lack of facilities to bring the injured swiftly to the shore often results in loss of lives. To address this long-standing gap, fishermen from Ullal in Mangaluru have launched the State’s first ‘boat ambulance’ service.

The emergency service has been initiated by the Ullal zone traditional boat and gillnet fishermen’s association. The objective is to provide immediate first aid and quickly transport injured persons to the shore in the event of boat capsizing, fire accidents at sea, or sudden medical emergencies among fishermen.

Although there has been a demand for a sea ambulance along the coast for decades, government projects could not be implemented due to technical and financial constraints. Now, without waiting for government assistance, fishermen have come together to launch this service on their own.

The specially designed boat ambulance is equipped with a siren, red warning lights, a stretcher, oxygen cylinders, a first-aid kit and life jackets. Arrangements have been made to ensure that other boats give way immediately upon hearing the siren. A public address system has also been installed to communicate with people along the coastline during emergencies.

Three trained personnel have been appointed to operate the service. They are capable of swimming even in rough sea conditions. One of the key aims of the initiative is to prevent deaths caused by breathing difficulties during boat capsize incidents. The boat ambulance enables immediate first aid and rapid transportation of the injured to the shore.

Currently, one boat ambulance is in operation. If financial support is received from the government, the fishermen’s association plans to equip the boats with more advanced medical facilities and expand the service across the district. The initiative has emerged as a model effort in saving lives along the coast.