What was the major development with regard to security of ports in India in the year 2004 ?

The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code is a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities, developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in response to the 9/11 attacks. It was adopted as an amendment to the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention and came into force globally on July 1, 2004.

India, as a signatory, was required to ensure its maritime infrastructure met these international standards. By the 2004 deadline, all 12 major ports in India successfully became ISPS Code compliant. This involved implementing rigorous security assessments, appointing Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs), and establishing security plans. While the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) provides physical security at many ports, the specific regulatory milestone of 2004 was the universal adoption of the ISPS framework to ensure Indian ports remained open to international trade.