Amit Shah Proposes New Bureau for Port Security in India

Establishment of Bureau of Port Security

New Delhi, Dec 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a meeting on Friday to discuss the formation of a new entity, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), aimed at enhancing the security of maritime vessels and port facilities.

During the discussions, Shah highlighted the importance of creating a comprehensive port security system nationwide. He instructed that security protocols should be implemented based on a risk assessment approach, considering factors such as vulnerabilities, trade opportunities, geographical location, and other pertinent criteria.

Present at the meeting were Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and K. Ram Mohan Naidu, the Union Civil Aviation Minister.

Shah remarked that insights gained from maritime security practices would be applied to improve aviation security measures.

The proposed BoPS is set to be established as a statutory body under Section 13 of the recently enacted Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, according to an official announcement.

This Bureau will be led by a Director General and will operate under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, overseeing regulatory functions related to the security of ships and port facilities.

Modeled after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the BoPS will be directed by an IPS officer.

For the initial year, the Director General of Shipping will serve as the Director General of BoPS.

The Bureau will also focus on the timely collection, analysis, and sharing of security information, particularly regarding cyber security, with a dedicated unit to protect port IT systems from digital threats.

To bolster port security infrastructure, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been appointed as a Recognised Security Organisation for port facilities, tasked with conducting security evaluations and developing security strategies for ports.

Additionally, the CISF will be responsible for training and enhancing the capabilities of Private Security Agencies (PSAs) involved in port security.

The announcement indicated that these agencies will be certified, and regulatory measures will be implemented to ensure that only licensed PSAs operate within this sector.