Govt to Mandate Emergency Tugs at Ports Handling Over 10 MT Cargo

In response to recent maritime disasters off Kerala, the Directorate General of Shipping has proposed mandating all Indian ports handling 10 million tonnes or more of cargo annually, or operating two or more tugs, to designate at least one tug for emergency response. These tugs must be sea-going, certified for coastal operations, and equipped for firefighting and towing. Triggered by the sinking of MSC ELSA 3 and the fire on WAN HAI 503, the move aims to improve rapid response and marine environmental protection. Ports must deploy such tugs within 90 days of notification and submit an Emergency Tug Deployment Plan (ETDP) integrated into their disaster management plans. The cost of tug use during emergencies will be borne by vessel owners or insurers. This decentralised strategy aligns with global best practices to enhance maritime safety, as current emergency towing capacity—limited to Mumbai and Chennai—often results in delayed incident response.