While the Justice V.K. Mohanan Commission probing the 2023 Tanur boat tragedy is set to conduct a public hearing here on Saturday as part of the second phase of the investigation, disturbing visuals from the waters off Marine Drive suggest that lessons have not been learned from tragedies in the past.

Several private leisure boats operating from Marine Drive continue to violate safety rules, despite warnings and punitive actions. A major violation pertains to allowing passengers on board beyond the permitted limit. Boats plying with passengers crowded on the upper deck, most of them standing without wearing life jackets, paint a picture of clear violation, triggering safety concerns.

Saju T.B., secretary of Marine Drive Tourist Boat Association, said that safety rules did not make it mandatory for passengers of bigger vessels to wear life jackets while on board. "The rule states that life jackets should be ready for use at accessible points," he said.

He added that there were occasions when the authorities slapped fine on boat operators for taking passengers on board beyond the permitted limit on the upper deck, though the number of passengers was within the capacity fixed for the vessels. Mr. Saju claimed that boat operators at Marine Drive were well aware of the rules, and that they took safety measures. "There could have been a bit of oversight on some occasions," he added.

K. Sivaprasad, Professor, Department of Ship Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology (on deputation as Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University), said Mr. Saju's claim on life jackets was true, but he was wrong on the rules regarding passenger capacity. "The number of passengers allowed in each deck of a boat has been clearly fixed, and there is no justification for violating it. The safety rules have been framed in tune with international guidelines," he said.

Enforcement intensified

Meanwhile, the Kerala Maritime Board (KMB) said it had strengthened enforcement of safety rules in recent years. KMB Chairman N.S. Pillai highlighted the special enforcement drives conducted ahead of Onam across the State. "The KMB has made all efforts to ensure that all mechanically propelled vessels operating in inland waters strictly complied with the Inland Vessels Act. Enforcement wings have been constituted to conduct regular inspections and monitoring of vessel operations to ensure that they strictly follow safety and other parametres including the number of passengers, availability of safety jackets, and the qualifications of the crew," he said. Mr. Pillai said the public also should be sensitised to the safety aspects to ensure that no untoward incident took place.

He added that with the enactment of the Inland Vessels Act 2021, the role of State governments and designated authorities like the KMB was confined to compliance with such rules. "Still, loopholes exist, and the KMB is trying to plug them through concerted efforts. The Union government has also taken steps to amend rules considering field-level constraints," he added.

Private boats operating from Marine Drive continue to violate safety rules