Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral
Drishti Marine’s newly deployed Seahorse temporary floating platforms are already playing a crucial role in lifesaving operations along Goa’s coastline, reinforcing beach safety as an added layer of vigilance during one of the state’s busiest tourist seasons.
Since their introduction in December 2025, a total of 34 rescues have been recorded at beaches where the Seahorse platforms are deployed. In December, 11 rescues were carried out—seven at Calangute, three at Candolim and one at Miramar. In January 2026 so far, rescues have increased to 23, with Miramar accounting for 13 rescues, followed by Calangute with seven and Candolim with three. No rescues were reported at Baina during this period.
The Seahorse platforms have been deployed at Calangute, Candolim and Miramar in North Goa, and Baina in South Goa, supplementing existing safety infrastructure such as beach towers and shore-based patrols. Positioned offshore, the platforms allow lifesavers to monitor swimmers from vantage points at sea—particularly valuable in high-footfall areas where land-based visibility can be limited.
Recently, one of the Seahorse platforms assisted in the successful rescue of 13 students from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) off Miramar beach.
“In many situations, every second matters. With the Seahorse platforms, our teams are positioned closer to the risk zone, which significantly cuts reaction time. What earlier took three to five minutes can now be addressed in under a minute—and that difference can mean a life saved,” said Austin Collaco, General Manager (Operations), Drishti Marine.
According to Collaco, lifesavers can now be dispatched to water-based emergencies in under five seconds. “Within about five seconds of receiving the rescue alert, the jet ski is on its way. It can cover a distance of 100 metres in roughly two to four seconds, depending on water conditions,” he explained.
Each Seahorse unit accommodates four to six lifesavers and is equipped with a jet ski ramp, rescue boards, surfboards and rescue tubes. The elevated structure provides a wider field of vision over nearshore swimming zones, while the jet ski enables immediate response to emergencies.
The deployment of Seahorse platforms also addresses challenges caused by increasing sand erosion along several beaches, which has made some conventional lifesaver towers unstable or difficult to relocate. The floating platforms are anchored to the seabed and positioned approximately 20 to 30 metres offshore, depending on depth and tidal conditions.
Of the four temporary floating platforms initially deployed, two are currently positioned at Miramar and Baina beaches respectively.
Drishti Marine currently deploys over 450 lifesavers across 24 beaches in North Goa and 30 beaches in South Goa, along with inland locations including Dudhsagar waterfalls and Mayem lake, ensuring comprehensive safety coverage across the state.
