Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Commissions India’s First Port of Refuge at Dighi, Gopalpur.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone has operationalised India’s first Port of Refuge (PoR), establishing designated facilities at Dighi Port on the west coast and Gopalpur Port on the east coast. The initiative addresses a long-standing gap in the country’s maritime emergency response infrastructure by creating a formal system to assist vessels in distress.

The company, which handles nearly 27 per cent of India’s port cargo volumes, said the two PoR locations will support maritime traffic across key global routes. Dighi Port will cater to vessels operating in the Arabian Sea and routes connecting to the Persian Gulf, while Gopalpur Port will serve ships navigating the Bay of Bengal and the busy Malacca Strait corridor.

A Port of Refuge, as defined by the International Maritime Organization, is a designated location where ships facing emergencies can seek shelter to stabilise conditions, safeguard lives and minimise environmental damage. While such systems are standard in major maritime economies, India had not formalised a PoR framework until now, the company said in an official statement.