Bureau of Port Security (BoPS)
Context:
The Centre has constituted the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) as a statutory body under Section 13 of the newly established Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
It is modelled on the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and functions under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Need for BoPS:
Previously, coastal security was shared among multiple agencies (like the Coast Guard, CISF, State maritime police, and the Navy)
This multiplicity led to communication challenges and potential security gaps.
This necessitated a single statutory body for regulatory oversight and coordination.
Key Roles and Functions:
It is responsible for regulatory oversight concerning the security of ships and port facilities.
Itwill address threats such as maritime terrorism, arms and drug smuggling, human trafficking, piracy, and illegal migration.
It will include a dedicated division to protect port IT infrastructure from digital threats and coordinate with national cybersecurity agencies.
BoPS has the authority to enforce compliance with international standards, such as the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
Under BoPS, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is designated as a recognised Security Organisation to prepare standardized plans and train private agencies for both major and non-major ports.
Issues:
The new legislation grants the Union government more authority over non-major (State-owned) ports, which some coastal States have criticized as a silent cost to maritime federalism.