Coast Guard rescues 18 fishermen after trawler breaks down in Bay of Bengal

The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued 18 fishermen after their fishing trawler suffered an engine failure and drifted helplessly in the Bay of Bengal off the Cox's Bazar coast, officials said on Wednesday (August 5).

According to the Coast Guard, the fishing vessel FB Nishan-2 was returning to shore after a fishing trip when its engine malfunctioned at around 6:00am on Tuesday. The trawler became stranded approximately 10 nautical miles from the Sangu gas field, leaving all 18 crew members adrift in deep waters.

At around 1:00pm, one of the fishermen managed to contact the trawler's owner by mobile phone. The owner subsequently sought assistance through Bangladesh's national emergency hotline 999, prompting an immediate rescue response.

The Coast Guard patrol ship Shyamal Bangla, which was operating in the area, was dispatched to the scene and successfully located the disabled vessel. All 18 fishermen were rescued safely along with the trawler.

After the operation, the rescued fishermen were provided with first aid and food before being handed over, along with the vessel, to its owner.

Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the Coast Guard's media officer, said the force continues to conduct regular maritime patrols to ensure the safety of fishermen and respond swiftly to emergencies at sea.

He added that similar humanitarian rescue missions will continue as part of the Coast Guard's efforts to enhance maritime safety.