On Christmas Day, Costa Cruises' vessel Costa Serena was navigating in the Arabian Sea as part of the first international cruise program from India in years. While sailing between Mumbai and Cochin, the ship conducted a rescue mission to aid a group of stranded fishermen far out at sea.
A call from vigilant passengers on the ship's balcony reported sightings of individuals in lifejackets in the distance. mastered by Captain Andrea Bardi, Costa Serena altered the course and reduced speed to initiate a search and rescue operation.
Maneuvering the 950-ft/290-m ship, the crew located the stranded fishermen ~1 mile off their intended route. The captain positioned the ship, confirming the group's identity as 5 fishermen in distress.
The ship's bridge promptly informed the Indian Coast Guard of the situation and the ongoing rescue operation. Several hours later, the Coast Guard rendezvoused with the cruise ship, assuming control of the operation. The fishermen were safely transferred to the Indian Coast Guard, arranging for their medical treatment at Mumbai Hospital.
Upon the Costa Serena's arrival in Cochin on December 26, representatives of the Indian Coast Guard expressed gratitude by presenting the captain and crew with an appreciation plaque. This acknowledgment recognized their commendable rescue efforts under unusual circumstances, ensuring the well-being of the shipwrecked fishermen. Fortunately, all individuals involved are reported to be in good health.
As the last of the Costa Cruises ships to return to service, Costa Serena resumed sailing last year with a series of cruise programs around Asia - the first since the 2020 pause due to the crisis. The vessel arrived in India in November for a groundbreaking program of short cruises tailored to the Indian market. Envisaging an influx of as many as 450,000 passengers cruising between November and January 2024, the Indian government anticipates this initiative will significantly contribute to the expansion of the domestic tourism industry.
For more Costa Serena incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.