Mumbai, May 18: Deployment of too many foreign vessels in and around the Indian oil field installations "is a matter of concern" as chances of disruption during adverse times are substantially high, according a report of Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). "Therefore, an appropriate balance between foreign and Indian flag vessels would be necessary to guarantee minimum risk exposure to our oil fields", TERI said in its study on `status of and challenges before the Indian shipping industry' commissioned by Indian National Shipowners' Association.
"There are a few high risk zones in India, where the enemy could strike at Indian ports and convoys carrying cargo to these ports", it said.
Several of the ports are important from the strategic point of view given the volume of products handled and efforts have to be taken to protect them from any military attack, it added.
"A major challenge for India's maritime security is the assurance of sufficient and secure energy shipments from West Asia, with secure vessels in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, secure from both military and non-military threats and uncertainties", it said.
Along the West Coast, Kandla, Mumbai and Jawaharlal Nehru port are risk zones as they together handle about 40 million tonnes per year of crude and pol products.
Similarly, the risk zone on the east coast comprises Chennai, Vishakapatnam, Haldia and Kolkata ports, which handle 41 million tonnes of crude and pol products, it said. Bureau Report