Costa Serena crew rescues five castaways in Arabian Sea
On a cruise from Mumbai to Kochi, Costa Serena helped save lives of five persons stranded in the sea
The Costa Serena crew has saved a group of shipwrecked fishermen in difficulty who were sighted while the ship was sailing the Arabian Sea off the west coast of India.
According to a press statement by the cruise operator, on December 25, during her planned navigation passage from Mumbai to Kochi, part of her actual cruises programme, at around noon, Costa Serena bridge received a phone call from some guests on board, who reported having noticed from their cabin’s balcony a group of people with life jacket, stranded at sea about 2 km away from the ship. 
The statement adds that under the guidance of Captain Andrea Bardi, Costa Serena immediately slowed down her speed and deviated her route to reach the group of people spotted at sea and to start their search and rescue operation.
It says that the bridge notified the Indian Coast Guard, who after few hours reached the area and took over the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation by following the precise coordinates as provided by Costa Serena Captain.
Despite the difficult conditions, the immediate and effective intervention of the crew of Costa Serena has allowed to save five people who were safely recovered by the Indian Coast Guard. Those persons are now under first aid treatment at Mumbai Hospital.
The statement adds that on December 26 while Costa Serena was docked at the port of Kochi, the Captain of the Indian Coast Guard delivered an appreciation plaque to Costa Serena Captain and his crew, thanking all of them for the efforts made during such a peculiar and difficult search and rescue operation allowing to save 5 shipwrecked people who are now all in good health.
Costa Serena is actually sailing a programme of cruises for Indian guests along the western coast of India.
