Bureau of Port Security

Context

The Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of State for Cooperation held a review meeting regarding the establishment of a dedicated Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) for the security of ships and ports.

About the Bureau of Port Security

• The BoPS will be established as a statutory body under the provisions of Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
• The Bureau will be headed by a Director General and will function under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
• The Bureau will be responsible for regulatory and inspection functions related to the security of ships and port facilities.
• The BoPS will be headed by a senior officer (Pay Level 15) of the Indian Police Service (IPS).
• During the one-year transition period, the Director General of Shipping (DGS/DGMA) will serve as the Director General of the BoPS.

Functions of the Bureau of Port Security

• The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection, and sharing of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity.
• It will also include a dedicated division to protect the IT infrastructure of ports from digital threats.

CISF's role in the security framework

• To strengthen the port security infrastructure, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as the Recognized Security Organization (RSO) for port facilities, responsible for conducting security assessments and preparing security plans for ports.
• CISF has also been tasked with training and capacity building of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
• These agencies will be certified, and only licensed private security agencies will operate in this area. Appropriate regulatory measures will be implemented to ensure this.