The wee hours on 13th October morning, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Regional Headquarters (West) at Mumbai assigned ICGS C-154 to medically evacuate a 44 year old Abled Body seafarer of Filipino national working on MT Nordic Thunder who was reported to have a loss of vision.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai received a request on 10th October from MT Nordic Thunder to evacuate a Filipino national. The Filipino crew employed as abled body onboard aged about 44 years and was reported to have loss of vision. He probably had retinal failure and required an immediate ophthalmologist consultation/ referral.

The tanker was adrift around 458 NM west off Mumbai whilst receipt of the distress information and was waiting for orders from shipping company/ agent for disembarkation of the patient. The tanker could not be brought closer to Mumbai due to the draft restrictions, and agent also expressed inability to arrange any private launch/ tug boat to proceed away from Mumbai anchorages.

The Coast Guard Interceptor Boat (IB) effected R/V with the tanker, safely embarked the patient onboard and provided him with basic first aid. Thereafter, the IB proceeded towards Mumbai Port Trust Jetty for disembarkation. On arrival at jetty, the patient was immediately handed over to local agent namely M/s-JM Baxi & Co wherein he was taken to Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai for further medical management.

Medical Evacuation of the distressed foreign national not only reflects humanitarian touch but also reinstate the faith of civil populace on the Indian Coast Guard.