Centre to set up Bureau of Port Security to boost port, vessel security

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday convened a high-level meeting to initiate the constitution of a dedicated Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to enhance the security of vessels and port facilities across the country. The proposed Bureau of Port Security will be established as a statutory body under Section 13 of the newly promulgated Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. It will function under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and will be responsible for regulatory oversight and coordination related to the security of ships and port infrastructure.

Chairing the meeting, Shah emphasised the need for a robust and future-ready port security framework, directing that security measures be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner. He said the framework should factor in vulnerabilities, trade potential, geographical location and other relevant parameters to ensure effective protection of critical maritime assets. The BoPS will be headed by a Director General of the rank of an IPS officer and will be modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). During the initial transition period of one year, the Director General of Shipping will function as the Director General of the Bureau of Port Security. According to Ministry of Home Affairs, the new body will focus on timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with special emphasis on cyber security. A dedicated division will be created within the Bureau to protect port-related IT infrastructure from emerging digital threats.

As part of the revamped security framework, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as a Recognised Security Organisation for port facilities. The CISF will be responsible for conducting security assessments and preparing security plans for ports across the country. The CISF has also been tasked with training and capacity building of Private Security Agencies deployed at ports. These agencies will be certified, and regulatory measures will be introduced to ensure that only licensed and trained private security providers operate in the port security ecosystem.

The meeting was attended by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Minister of Civil Aviation. Ministry said lessons drawn from the strengthened maritime security framework would also be leveraged to further improve security mechanisms in the aviation sector.