Meeting to review coastal security today

Police will hold a meeting with Mumbai Port Trust,Coast Guard,Customs and Central Industrial Security Force Friday to take stock of coastal security.

Police will hold a meeting with Mumbai Port Trust,Coast Guard,Customs and Central Industrial Security Force Friday to take stock of coastal security. The meeting,to be chaired by additional commissioner of police (south region) Krishna Prakash,comes close on the heels of new regulations issued by the state government setting a number of conditions for vessels entering the city. It will review the guidelines.

The meeting comes amidst reports that a foreigner allegedly sailed from Goa to Mumbai in March this year without being stopped by Coast Guard or Mumbai Port Trust. Royal Bombay Yacht Club,where he anchored,has been asked to post the regulations on its website.

The guidelines say all vessels should disclose sailing plans 72 hours prior to arrival in Mumbai. They give Coast Guard the power to board any vessel that does not comply.

A meeting is held every month where we review security of unprotected sites along the coast, said Prakash,adding that all recent trespasses would be discussed.

We received information that an old man sailed from Goa to Mumbai without disclosing his plan. But the onus to stop him was first with Maharashtra Maritime Board and Coast Guard and then police. He was granted a temporary landing permit and directed to the foreign regional registration office and port trust where he received permission to park his yacht for two days, said Tanaji Ghadge,DCP (port zone).

Officials said no agency was alerted even when the yacht left the coast.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

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