Boat catches fire, crew swim to safety

In a bizarre incident in the high seas, a fishing trawler, St Antony, caught fire and its 12-member crew had to jump off the boat and swim their way to safety. The boat belonged to Joseph D’Souza of Bajal near Mangalore.

According to the coastal police sources, the boat was in 25 metre-deep waters and about seven nautical miles from the Old Mangalore Port, when the fire broke out.

A forensic analysis of the charred remains of the boat, which was tugged into the port on Sunday morning, revealed that a short circuit in the battery box had caused the fire. The boat was chugging back towards the port with fish catch valued at Rs40 lakh.

“I am relieved that all the crew members were safe, I have insured the boat and I am sure the insurance company will make good the loss,” D’Souza said. He put the estimated loss at Rs70 lakh.

Senior longliner fisherman Loknath Bolar told DNA that it was a freak accident. Usually the fishermen check their electrical terminals every time before they set off on a multi-day expedition, but in this case the fire started from a short circuit in the battery box which was unusual, he added.