By Admin 
India’s maritime security system has got new strength. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) has started ‘Port of Refuge’ for the first time in the country. Through this initiative, ships facing emergency at sea will now be able to get safe haven and quick help.
Till now, there was no such formal system in the Indian maritime area, under which the situation could be controlled by immediately bringing the ships in distress to a safe place. The introduction of this new facility will be of great help in the safety of ships, saving the lives of crew members and protecting the environment from harm.
What is port of refuge?
According to the guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), ‘Ports of Refuge’ are places where ships stranded in case of accident, technical failure or bad weather can stop temporarily and handle the situation. This system is already implemented in many developed maritime countries but now it has been institutionalized for the first time in India.
Two important sea bases were developed
APSEZ has developed two important marine bases under this scheme. Dighi Port located on the western coast will serve as a support for ships heading towards the Arabian Sea and Gulf countries, while Gopalpur Port on the eastern coast will play the role of a relief center for ships operating towards the Bay of Bengal and the Strait of Malacca. Modern facilities like fire fighting, pollution control, debris removal and rescue operations will be available at these ports to deal with emergency situations.
To provide global support to this initiative, APSEZ has tied up with SMIT Salvage, Royal Boskalis Westminster NV and Maritime Emergency Response Centre. This will ensure fast, coordinated and expert assistance during any maritime accident.
Company CEO Ashwani Gupta said that this initiative is an important achievement in strengthening the maritime preparedness of the country. At the same time, according to Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan, this will enable better response and coordination in emergency situations, thereby ensuring safety of life, property and environment.
This step is considered very important in view of India’s long coastline and busy sea routes. Experts say that with the introduction of ‘Port of Refuge’, India will not only come closer to international maritime standards, but will also strengthen its participation in global trade.
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