Boat Rescue by Costa Serena: Incident on 25 December 2023

On 25 December 2023, the cruise ship Costa Serena, operated by Costa Cruises, participated in a critical maritime rescue operation in the eastern Arabian Sea while en route from Mumbai to Cochin in Indian waters. The ship's crew, led by Captain Andrea Bardi, responded swiftly to rescue five fishermen stranded at sea after passengers spotted them in lifejackets approximately 2 kilometres away. All five fishermen were successfully rescued by the Indian Coast Guard and reported to be in good health.

The incident exemplified the importance of vigilance and rapid response in maritime emergencies, and demonstrated effective cooperation between commercial vessels and coast guard authorities in rescue operations.

The rescue operation commenced around 12:30 PM local time (7:00 AM UTC) after two passengers on the Costa Serena noticed people in lifejackets in the water. The ship's officers immediately notified the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and initiated a search and rescue mission. Captain Bardi reduced the ship's speed and altered its course to assist the stranded fishermen. After several hours of search efforts by the Costa Serena, an ICG vessel arrived at the scene and took over the operation using the coordinates provided by Captain Bardi.

Fatalities

• None reported.

Injuries

• None reported.

Rescued

• Five fishermen successfully rescued by the Indian Coast Guard and reported to be in good health.

The Indian Coast Guard was notified immediately by the Costa Serena's officers and responded by dispatching a vessel to the scene. The ICG took command of the rescue operation using the coordinates and information provided by Captain Bardi and the Costa Serena's crew, successfully retrieving all five fishermen from the water.

The Costa Serena resumed its scheduled voyage following the rescue operation. The five rescued fishermen were transferred to the Indian Coast Guard vessel and reported to be in good health with no serious injuries.