The Indian government has proposed a new regulation aimed at enhancing maritime safety by mandating shipping companies to deploy at least one tug or towing vessel for emergency response at all Indian ports handling 10 million metric tonnes (MMT) or more of cargo annually. This initiative, introduced by the Directorate General of Shipping, comes in light of recent maritime disasters that have highlighted vulnerabilities in the current emergency response framework.
Notably, the tugboats must possess sea-going capabilities and be equipped for critical emergency functions, including firefighting, towing, and pollution response. The regulation applies to both major and non-major ports, public or private, emphasizing the urgent need for robust emergency preparedness.
The push for this regulation follows serious incidents, such as the sinking of the MSC ELSA 3 and the fire on the WAN HAI 503 off the Kerala coast, which resulted in hazardous cargo being released into the water. These events underscore the increasing frequency of maritime accidents, particularly during the monsoon season.
Currently, the Directorate General of Shipping has stationed two Seagoing Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) in Mumbai and Chennai to strengthen maritime safety and response capabilities.
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