Blueprint for deep-sea fishing boats released

Hundreds of fishermen in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu face the problem of arrests by Sri Lankan Navy every day. For long, they have been demanding their right to fish near Katchatheevu. But it has still not been given to them by either the state or the centre. 

However, as an alternative, the central government had suggested the fishermen to take up deep sea fishing to prevent being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy frequently. During his recent visit, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, had inaugurated the scheme and distributed orders of deep sea fishing boats to five fishermen. 

According to the scheme, it would cost Rs 80 lakh to build a boat. The central government will bear 50 per cent of the cost, the state government 20 percent and another 20 per cent by institutional funding and the last 10 by the beneficiary. 

Till now, 220 fishermen have been given orders for deep sea fishing boat and out of them 19 have expressed their interest in making them at the Cochin Shipyard. Recently, the fishermen had visited the Cochin Shipyard and had inspected the construction process. 

Later, officials visited Rameswaram and released the blue print of the ship. They also explained the advantages of constructing the boat at the Cochin Shipyard. 

According to the blueprint, the boat is called as Tuna Long Liner cum Gillnetter. It is 22 metres long, 6.5 metres broad and 3 metres deep. The ship is made of steel and has an engine capacity of 200 horse power. 

Officials at the meeting informed the fishermen that a 3D model of the ship would be shown to them in another 10 days. If they are satisfied, construction process would commence soon. More are expected to place orders at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd, said fishermen who attended the meeting.