Following a recent fire incident that reduced nearly 50 boats to ashes at the Vizag fishing harbour, officials in Visakhapatnam district are taking preventive measures by declaring the area a smoke-free zone.

The decision comes in light of identified risks, such as fishermen leaving diesel tanks full and unattended cooking gas cylinders on their anchored boats after returning from voyages, creating a potential recipe for disaster.

The move aims to address the hazardous conditions where even a spark on one boat could trigger a chain reaction due to the stockpiling of flammable materials like diesel, cooking gas, wooden boats, and fishing nets in neighboring vessels, as witnessed in the recent fire accident.

Visakhapatnam Fisheries Joint Director, Shaik Lal Mohammad, explained that plans are in place to enforce a strict no-smoking rule at the fishing harbour. Coordination with other departments, including the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and city police, is crucial for effective implementation.

Regarding the boats destroyed in the recent fire, Lal Mohammad revealed that a five-acre area near the 11th and 12th jetties within the harbour has been earmarked for salvaging the vessels. The operation involves lifting the boats from the sea floor using heavy cranes, with the expectation that the bottoms and steel structures will remain intact.

Compensation has been provided to affected boat owners, with 30 completely damaged boats receiving approximately 6.5 crore, and 19 partially damaged boats receiving around 70 lakh. Additionally, the 376 individuals employed on these boats have been given financial assistance of 10,000 each.

While a recent fire incident near the Kakinada coast triggered by a cooking gas cylinder explosion was swiftly addressed by the Coast Guard, concerns about the safety of fishing vessels persist. Arjili Dasu, the National Fisherfolk Forum General Secretary, highlighted the delay in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, a government scheme aimed at providing insurance for fishing vessels and fishermen.

Vasupalli Janakiram, President of the Andhra Pradesh Mechanised Boat Owners' Association, stressed the importance of insurance for fishermen, especially considering the high cost of some big boats, reaching as much as 1.2 crore.

The recent fire accident, though rare, has underscored the need for proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of those involved in the fishing industry at Vizag's harbour.

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