Survival-at-Sea Training in India: A Call for Improvement

• The Mumbai boat tragedy highlights the need for improved marine safety in India.

• The area is a congested and potentially hazardous environment with merchant ships and naval vessels competing for space.

• Sea trials for new craft are typically conducted in open waters, but the naval speed boat collided with Neelkamal, a wooden boat prone to capsizing.

• The accident resulted in the loss of around 100 passengers, most of whom were wearing life jackets.

• An inquiry will determine if the boat was carrying more passengers than its capacity and if there were enough readily accessible life jackets.

• Guidelines for life jackets should be established for easy and affordable use, even by panic-stricken individuals.

• The incident serves as a reminder that sea transport is fundamentally different from road and rail travel.

• India may need to incorporate survival-at-sea training into schools and workplaces, alongside first aid and other life-saving measures.