Amit Shah Chairs Meeting to Constitute Bureau of Port Security for Strengthening Maritime Safety

BoPS to be set up as a statutory body under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, with a graded and risk-based port security framework

New Delhi : Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah convened a high-level meeting to initiate the constitution of a dedicated body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), aimed at strengthening the security of vessels and port facilities across the country. The meeting was attended by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Minister of Civil Aviation.

During the deliberations, Amit Shah emphasized the urgent need for establishing a robust and uniform port security framework nationwide. He directed that security measures at ports should be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, factoring in vulnerabilities, trade potential, geographical location, and other critical parameters.

The Bureau of Port Security will be constituted as a statutory body under Section 13 of the newly promulgated Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. Headed by a Director General, the BoPS will function under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and will be responsible for regulatory oversight related to the security of ships and port facilities. The Bureau is being modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and will be headed by an IPS officer of Pay Level-15. During the one-year transition period, the Director General of Shipping (DGS/DGMA) will serve as the Director General, BoPS.

A key mandate of the BoPS will be the analysis, collection, and exchange of security-related information, with special emphasis on cyber security. A dedicated division will be established to safeguard port IT infrastructure against emerging digital threats.

To further strengthen port security, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) for port facilities. CISF will be responsible for conducting security assessments and preparing security plans for ports. Additionally, CISF has been tasked with training and capacity building of Private Security Agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security. These agencies will be certified, and regulatory mechanisms will be introduced to ensure that only licensed PSAs operate in the sector.

The meeting also noted that lessons learned from the maritime security framework could be replicated to further enhance security in the aviation sector.