Govt. plans to develop SOPs for tourist boat operators

Government plans to develop SOPs for tourist boat operators in Puducherry after recent incidents, focusing on safety protocols.

In the wake of a recent incident involving a fishing boat carrying tourists near Yacht Club, the government was planning to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for tourist boat operators in Puducherry.

After formulating the Puducherry Water Sports and Adventure Sports Guidelines 2018, the Tourism Department has been issuing permits to individuals, largely fishermen, to operate sea cruise, and for boating in the backwaters of Puducherry.

Last week, one such boat operating near the Pondy Marina capsized, but all the ten passengers aboard were rescued unharmed by other boat operators without any delay.

“The boat was overloaded. License is given to cruises carrying around five to six passengers. However, the capsized boat had ten tourists. Luckily, all the passengers were wearing life-jackets and the depth where the boat was operating was only five feet. We have registered a case,” a police officer said.

Tour guides and local tourists have been raising apprehensions about the safety aspect of fishing boats and skills of the engine drivers. “We have been raising concerns about the skills of engine drivers. Tourists have also experienced unpleasant situations during boat rides. There is a norm that the engine drivers of tourist boats have to get certificate from National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS), Goa. They have to get the certificate renewed every year after undergoing training. However, we are not sure whether all engine drivers have such a certificate,” a tourist guide said.

Following the incident near Pondy Marina, District Collector A. Kulothungan inspected boat houses to ascertain whether the operators were following safety protocols.

The government on its part, according to an official, was planning to develop an SOP for boat operators. It was planning to have quarterly inspection of boat houses by the Tourism, Fisheries and Port departments. A third-party safety audit of the boats would be made mandatory, the official said.