Amit Shah: HM talks on the establishment of a port security department for ships
Amit Shah: the Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister, conducted talks on Friday about the creation of the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), a specialized organization for the protection of ships and port infrastructure.
The necessity of establishing a strong port security framework nationwide was emphasized during the meeting by Home Minister Shah, who also instructed that security measures be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, taking into account location, trade potential, vulnerabilities, and other pertinent factors.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal attended the conference.
“The aviation security domain will replicate the lessons learned from the maritime security framework,” said Home Minister Shah.
According to an official release, the BoPS is intended to be established as a statutory organization in accordance with Section 13 of the recently passed Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
It also said that the Bureau, which would be led by a Director General and operate under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, would be in charge of supervisory and regulatory duties pertaining to the safety of ships and port infrastructure.
An IPS officer would lead the Bureau, which is modeled after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
The Director General of Shipping would serve as the BoPS Director General for the duration of the one-year transition period.
With a particular emphasis on cyber security and a specialized section to protect port IT infrastructure from online attacks, the BoPS would also guarantee prompt analysis, gathering, and sharing of security-related data.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been recognized as a Recognized Security Organization for port facilities, tasked with conducting security assessments and creating security plans for ports in order to fortify port security infrastructure.
Additionally, the CISF has been tasked with educating and enhancing the capabilities of port security-related Private Security Agencies (PSAs).
According to the statement, these organizations will get certification, and suitable regulations will be put in place to guarantee that only PSAs with licenses work in this industry.