Kochi: A joint team of the Kerala Marine Enforcement and the Coastal Police would inspect all vessels operated by private parties in the Kochi backwaters from Saturday to ensure that they adhered to the safety directions issued by the Ports Department in the wake of the water scooter tragedy.
“I have directed the combined team to launch the inspection and those boats which are found not having proper safety measures will be issued stop memos. This includes both safety gadgets and the condition of the vessels,” Fort Kochi Sub-Collector S Suhas said.
This follows complaints that many tourist boats are being operated without adhering to the safety practices such as operating with commuters only in the upper deck and not having lifejackets in the ratio of 1:1. A 32-year-old Palakkad native Bineesh had gone missing on Thursday after the water scooter he was riding along with two friends capsized in the backwaters near Marine Drive.
The vessel owned by the Kerala Inland Navigation Corporation was leased by Baama Ventures. The vessel was under maintenance for technical glitches, police said. There was no information yet on the missing person despite searches.
