News: The Union Home Minister chaired a meeting to constitute a statutory Bureau of Port Security to strengthen port and vessel security.
About Bureau of Port Security (BoPS)
- The Bureau of Port Security is a dedicated body proposed to strengthen security oversight of ports, ships, and maritime infrastructure.
- Legal status: The Bureau of Port Security shall be constituted as a statutory body under Section 13 of the newly promulgated Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
- Ministry involved: The Bureau shall function under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
- Functions
- The Bureau shall carry out regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities across the country.
- It will have the legal authority to enforce compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
- Intelligence and Cybersecurity: The Bureau shall ensure timely analysis, collection, and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cyber security.
- It will include a dedicated division to protect port IT infrastructure from digital and cyber threats.
- Structure
- Interim: The Director General of Shipping (DGS) will hold additional charge as the DG of BoPS for the initial one-year transition period.
- Permanent: The bureau will subsequently be led by a senior IPS officer (Pay Level-15) to ensure rigorous regulatory enforcement.
- The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been officially designated as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO).
- This empowers the CISF to conduct mandatory security assessments, perform audits, and prepare security plans for all port facilities, including private terminals.
- “Graded security” model: The security protocols will be customized based on a port’s location, trade volume, and vulnerability, rather than a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
- Includes private ports: Its regulations and CISF security audits are mandatory for all ports operating in India, including private entities like Mundra or Krishnapatnam.
