The first-ever ‘port facility security course’ has been launched at the Jawaharlal Nehru Ports Authority (JNPA) and the Chennai Port Authority (ChPA)
India is moving towards a new “hybrid” port security model, with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) beginning to provide specialised training to private security personnel at the country’s major ports. The initiative is a strategic effort to standardise security protocols and bolster resilience against evolving maritime threats.
The first-ever ‘port facility security course’ has been launched at the Jawaharlal Nehru Ports Authority (JNPA) and the Chennai Port Authority (ChPA). The two-week program, developed in collaboration with the directorate general of shipping, will equip private guards with critical knowledge on port operations, threat identification, emergency response, and the use of technical equipment.
The pilot phase will see 40 private security personnel from three major ports—JNPA Sheva, DPA Kandla, and MPA Mumbai—trained in Mumbai, while 26 personnel from four other major ports will undergo training in Chennai. The CISF plans to extend the course to other ports on both coasts in the coming months.
The training initiative comes amid growing maritime security concerns due to the current geopolitical climate. A CISF spokesperson stated that the program is a strategic step to “bolster India’s role in safeguarding maritime trade in the Indian Ocean region.”
The course combines classroom learning with hands-on drills and will be delivered by instructors from the CISF, customs, and other maritime departments. During the inaugural session at ChPA, CISF Inspector-General S R Saravanan highlighted that the training would empower security personnel to “safeguard critical infrastructure and trade.”
