Para-forces likely for merchant ships

KOCHI: The Ministry of Shipping will recommend the services of paramilitary personnel for the safety of Indian merchant vessels. This was stated by Shipping Secretary K Mohandas on the sidelines of the inauguration of the new Mercantile Marine Department in Willingdon Island in Kochi on Saturday.Even in the light of the Enrica Lexie episode wherein two Indian fishermen were killed on suspicion of being pirates, India will not consider the withdrawal of security guards from merchant vessels, he said. The decision to deploy armed guards in vessels was taken by the International Maritime Organisation after much debate. Experience has proved that pirate attacks have reduced considerably after such a measure was taken. In fact, no ship with security guards has ever come under piracy attack.Besides, as far as the global shipping industry is concerned, India accounts for only one per cent of the tonnage. Hence, India is not in a position to take a decision on this.Several countries like France and Belgium had strongly recommended the deployment of uniformed armed guards, Director-General of Shipping S B Agnihotri said.