Two Omani fishermen, who went missing from Al Ashkhara, South Sharqiyah, were found by an Omani fishing boat 180km from the coast on Friday morning.
Speaking to Muscat Daily, Ahmed Abdullah al Balushi, Vice-President of Omani Fishermen Association, said, “The two – Rashid Salim Ali al Mardi, 57, and Rashid Salim Rashid al Mardi, 34, set out on a fish-ing trip from Al Ashkhara on February 8. Unfortunately, their engine failed. Without any satellite device to contact home, they rowed aimlessly for almost two days without fuel.”
He informed that an Omani fishing boat passing by rescued them and alerted the authorities and the fishermen’s relatives. “More than 21 boats participated in a search operation for two days.”
According to Balushi, fishermen should follow the marine safety instructions before setting sail. “They should study the area and have safety equipment, first aid kit, life jackets, a paddle in the event of an engine failure, fireproof blankets, and navigation devices.”
Balushi thanked all concerned civil and military authorities and members of the association for their efforts in searching for the missing.
He added that the association and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources calls on fishermen to instal tracking devices in their boats, urging them to use Thuraya phones that connect to satellites, and to adhere to marine safety instructions to avoid any unfortunate accidents.
Talking about the Omani Fishermen Association’s efforts to ensure safety, Balushi said, “The association’s specialists hold workshops throughout the year to raise awareness on the importance of following safety instructions and conduct training programmes to help ensure fish quality by proper storage of catch.”