Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has operationalised India’s first Port of Refuge (PoR) facilities at Dighi Port on the west coast and Gopalpur Port on the east coast to handle maritime emergencies and vessels in distress.
A Port of Refuge is a designated location where ships can seek shelter during emergencies to stabilise conditions, safeguard lives and minimise environmental damage.
Strengthening maritime preparedness
The initiative assumes significance as India, with a coastline of over 11,000 km and located along key global shipping routes, enhances its emergency response framework.
The PoR facilities will offer services such as salvage and wreck removal, firefighting, pollution containment and coordinated emergency response through specialised equipment and trained teams.
Global collaboration
The initiative is backed by a tripartite memorandum of understanding involving SMIT Salvage, part of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., and the Maritime Emergency Response Centre (MERC), bringing global expertise to India’s maritime safety ecosystem.
The framework will support vessels covered under the International Group of Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs, aligning with established global risk and liability systems.
Enhancing safety standards
“Ports connect economies, but a Port of Refuge protects lives. By establishing dedicated PoR infrastructure, we are elevating India’s maritime preparedness and setting a new benchmark for world-class coastal safety. At APSEZ, we believe world-class infrastructure must be matched by world-class responsibility,” Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone CEO Ashwani Gupta said.
“The initiative marks an important step in strengthening India’s maritime preparedness and emergency response capacity. The adoption of a standardised Port of Refuge framework will enable more coordinated and timely action during maritime incidents, ensuring effective protection of life, cargo, and the coastal environment,” Directorate General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan said.
Supporting emergency response
“We are strengthening maritime safety and care for the marine environment where it matters most, and in doing so jointly protect India’s coastline and society. Providing a Port of Refuge to a casualty is critical in a salvage operation to ensure that the vessel and her cargo are dealt with swiftly and professionally and that the affected cargo and fire-fighting water is treated and disposed of in accordance with applicable legislation. SMIT Salvage is pleased to bring global best-in-class salvage capability and experience to ensure faster, safer, and coordinated emergency response along India’s key shipping routes,” SMIT Salvage (Boskalis), Managing Director, Richard Janssen, said.
Aligning with global norms
The initiative is aligned with international maritime conventions and is expected to enhance safety, environmental protection and India’s standing in global shipping corridors.
By formalising the Port of Refuge framework, APSEZ aims to strengthen emergency response readiness and reinforce its role in supporting maritime trade.