This is the first time that MbPT will be hiring a patrol boat to safeguard its jurisdiction, which was till recently done by the Coastal Police and the Indian Coast Guard.
Sources said the decision has been taken after considering the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 10 terrorists came through the water route.
The new policy came into effect recently, as per which each of the ports in India should have their own vessels to protect the waters under their jurisdiction. The decision was taken by the shipping department, sources said.
A patrol boat would be hired for five years and will be operated by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is taking care of MbPT security, sources said.
In the case of an emergency, the MbPT need not wait for other agencies to act as they will be better equipped in reducing the response time by using the patrol boat, the sources added.
