The Hindu Business Line : Major ports to get commando units

Chennai/ Mumbai, Dec. 2 Major ports in the country will soon have their own elite marine commando units on the lines of the National Security Guard, as part of their initiative to beef up security in the wake of last week’s terrorist attacks on Mumbai.

That the terrorists had landed in Mumbai by sea has all the more prompted the Shipping Ministry to lay out an elaborate plan to upgrade security levels in the ports. The Minister for Shipping and Surface Transport, Mr T.R. Baalu, had called a meeting last week in New Delhi with the chairmen of ports to review the security arrangements.

Sources said some of the major ports, which were more vulnerable to terror threats, will have at least 60 commandos, equipped with modern security equipment.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is in charge of security at the major ports, will train its men to be commandos. The elite team, which will be trained by the marine commandos of the Navy and the NSG, will be engaged only in the protection of the ports, the sources said.

Further, ports have been asked to work closely with the local fishermen community and have frequent communication and dialogue with them on security-related issues.

Another decision taken at the meeting was that the major ports should take immediate steps to acquire minimum two speed boats for patrolling the waterfront of their respective areas of operation. The Coast Guard will be authorised to look through all suspicious merchant vessels prior to their entry at the port.

Insurance cover

After the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, the Chennai Port Trust in May this year was the second major port to insure its assets, estimated at Rs 990 crore, against risks such as earthquake, tsunami, cyclone and even terrorist attacks. “The insurance cover is very crucial for ports after the Mumbai attacks,” said a Chennai port official.

JNPT has already initiated the process of upgrading its security. “We are going ahead with setting up a commando unit. The port will be bearing the expenses of setting up the unit,” Mr S.S. Hussain, Chairman of the port, told Business Line.

He had called a meeting with all the stakeholders of the port, including the Customs authorities, Coast Guard, shipping agents and other port users, on Tuesday to discuss the plans to upgrade security.

Similarly, Kandla port in Gujarat has also initiated steps to step up security levels. “We already have a 40-nautical mile speed boat and we have placed orders for one more, which is expected to join us later this month. We are also setting up a commando unit,” said an official of the port.