Andhra Pradesh   

Kakinada port fortified

KAKINADA: Security at Kakinada port has been increased to level 2 as per the International Ship and Port Facilities Safety (ISPS) code, along with all other major and minor ports, in the wake of recent sea-borne terrorist attacks at Mumbai. The heightened security will be in place till further orders by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), according to official sources.

Besides, to prevent the possible sneaking of anti-national elements to the shore in the garb of fishermen, it is proposed to make all ships and boats, irrespective of size, compliant with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) with which many ports are already equipped. Hitherto, only vessels above 500 GRT were mandated to have the specified equipment but the AIS condition is likely to be made all encompassing. This is to ensure that small vessels are not mistaken for fishing craft due to the absence of AIS equipment and allowed to go unchecked through the various lines of defence.

AIS is an integral part of the guidelines of International Maritime Organisation aimed at dealing with any contingency from the sea. Under the level 2 situation, the movement of personnel on port premises and on ships will be strictly monitored and restricted and unaccompanied baggage / other materials screened. As regards the application of AIS to all vessels, the opinion of port managements was sought and it was positive. But, it was not seen as a mean task as the small boats outnumber the big ships and the overall size of merchant fleets that criss-cross the Indian territorial waters is mind-boggling. Finding out whether all the existing big vessels are fitted with AIS itself requires a Herculean effort.

Nevertheless, the DGS has reportedly put across its views to all the departments concerned to get its proposal approved.

The Fisheries Departments of maritime States might be asked to subsidise the cost of AIS equipment

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