Cops shore up security & undertake ship census

LEAVING NO SHIP UNTURNED: Census includes yachts and speed boats

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The city police is leaving nothing to chance, no stone-—in this instance, ship—will be left unturned to ensure that the US President Barack Obama’s short visit goes off without a hitch. The Force is in the process of taking a census of all ships docked along Mumbai’s coastline. Such a census has never been undertaken by the state authorities, not even after the 26/11 terror attack, when 10 gunmen entered the city using the sea route.
The census will include a background check of vessels, their owners, crew members, travelling areas, etc. Each ship’s paperwork will also be verified, said a senior police official. Even small ships, fishing trawlers (there are 5,000 registered vessels), passenger boats, speed boats and luxury yachts will be checked. The police have already begun checking the papers and identities of crew members and verifying the smart card issued to the 5,000-odd fishing trawlers. These smart cards had been issued by the department of fisheries to the trawlers in 2009. During the security drive, cargo vessels, too, are being intercepted and checked.
According to senior police officials, the ship census will begin on October 27. “This information will be collected by the staff of senior inspector of the Yellow Gate police station and will be analyzed,” said the official. No fishing trawler or passenger boat will be allowed within three nautical miles from the Gateway of India. “The Mumbai Maritime Board (MMB) has agreed to these conditions during a recent high-level meeting. It will also decide on and allocate another docking station for these boats,” said another senior official.
The police estimate that there are around a hundred passenger boats and 150 speed boats operating near the Gateway of India.
The MMB will be assisting the police in monitoring the coast during Obama’s visit. Besides the 23 existing patrol boats, four speed boats will be roped in for the patrol. Another three new speed boats that are currently being fitted, may also be given to the city police. Around 150 police personnel will be stationed at sea during the two-day period. “Each police team will be led by an officer and four constables. They will be equipped with AK-47s, wireless sets, all-weather search lights, life jackets, etc. Beyond five nautical miles, the sea will be monitored by the Coast Guard. Quisar Khalid, deputy commissioner of police (Port Zone) said that the Force will be on high alert, but refused to divulge any details.
Patrolling Coastline
The police are conducting background checks of vessels, their owners, crew members, travelling areas, etc
No fishing trawler or passenger boat will be allowed within three nautical miles from the Gateway of India
Around 150 personnel will be stationed on patrol and speed boats to monitor the coast during Obama’s visit.