In response to recent maritime disasters, the Directorate General of Shipping has proposed a new regulation requiring all Indian ports—whether major or non-major—that handle 10 million metric tonne (MMT) or more of cargo annually to designate at least one tug or towing vessel for emergency response.

This proposal follows a series of serious maritime incidents along the Indian coastline, which highlighted deficiencies in the existing emergency response mechanisms. Two major incidents in 2025—the sinking of the container ship MSC ELSA 3 in May and a fire and explosion aboard the WAN HAI 503 in June off the coast of Kerala—resulted in containers falling into the sea, the release of hazardous materials, and posed significant environmental risks.

To address these challenges and support disaster management efforts at various levels, the maritime regulator has issued a draft notice for stakeholder consultation. The notice specifies that ports handling the specified cargo volume and/or operating at least two tugs for port operations must allocate one tug specifically for emergency duties.

The designated tug must be capable of operating at sea and adequately equipped for firefighting, towing, and pollution control operations. The draft also notes that recurring incidents—such as fires, mechanical failures, and vessel groundings—particularly during the monsoon season, have underscored the need for timely deployment of tugs to assist the Indian Coast Guard and Navy, which act as the initial responders during emergencies.

As India's maritime trade continues to expand, bringing higher vessel traffic and cargo volumes, the associated navigational risks have also increased. However, the current capacity for maritime salvage and emergency towing at ports across the Indian coast remains inadequate.

Presently, in coordination with the Mumbai Port Authority and Chennai Port Authority, the Directorate has stationed two seagoing Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs)—one each at Mumbai and Chennai. These vessels typically function as harbour tugs for routine port operations such as berthing and unberthing. In the event of emergencies, they are deployed to the incident site under the direction of the Indian Coast Guard’s On-Scene Commander to carry out specialised rescue and support functions.

News source: The Week