Major Indian Ports Grapple with Severe Patrol Boat Delivery Delays
Two of India's crucial maritime gateways, the Mumbai Port Authority (MPA) and the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), are currently embroiled in a significant contractual dispute. Both authorities are still awaiting the delivery of three specialized patrol boats, a delay that has now stretched more than eight months beyond the maximum timeline stipulated in their agreements.
Contractual Failures and Financial Implications
The situation highlights broader issues in port security procurement. These patrol boats are not ordinary vessels; they are fast, agile crafts specifically engineered for security surveillance, law enforcement, and harbor protection in coastal areas. The delays have direct operational and financial consequences.
In a particularly stark case, the Mumbai Port Authority awarded a tender to Mumbai-based Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works Ltd in September 2024. This contract was for hiring two fully operational patrol boats for a seven-year deployment period. The delivery was contractually bound for March 23, 2025. The company's failure to meet this deadline prompted severe action.
Termination Notice Issued by Mumbai PortLast month, the MPA escalated matters by issuing a formal termination notice to the contractor. The notice, dated January 8, 2026, cited the firm's critical failure to provide substitute patrol boats with equivalent technical specifications during the period of non-availability. This lapse has reportedly caused a financial loss of Rs 35 lakh to the port authority.
The termination letter explicitly demanded the company confirm compliance by January 20, 2026, warning that failure to do so would result in contract termination. Despite repeated inquiries, the Mumbai Port Authority has maintained silence regarding the current status of this contract, adding to the uncertainty.
Parallel Delays at New Mangalore Port
The problem is not isolated. The New Mangalore Port Authority faces a nearly identical scenario. It awarded a contract to the same company, Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works Ltd, in August 2024 for hiring one patrol boat. The original delivery was scheduled for May 2025.
Although the NMPA permitted a delayed delivery until July 2025, this extension came with the condition of imposing the maximum applicable liquidated damages. Despite this concession, the patrol boat, valued at a contracted cost of Rs 9.7 crore, remains undelivered as of now.
A senior NMPA official confirmed the ongoing delay but noted that, unlike Mumbai, the port authority has not yet terminated the contract. The official stated that the boat is still pending delivery, leaving a gap in the port's security apparatus.
Broader Context and Ministry Stance
This issue reflects a pattern. Two other major Indian ports, Paradip and VO Chidambarnar, have also experienced late deliveries of two patrol boats from similar contracts. All four port authorities had awarded these critical security contracts to the same Mumbai-based firm.
Sources within the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways have clarified the chain of responsibility. Since port authorities are legally empowered to make autonomous decisions regarding their contracts and daily operations, the onus for initiating appropriate corrective or punitive action lies squarely with them. The ministry's stance underscores the decentralized nature of port management in India.
The prolonged delays in delivering these essential security assets raise serious questions about vendor performance, contract enforcement, and the potential vulnerabilities at some of the nation's busiest maritime hubs. The situation remains fluid, with the fate of the contracts hanging in the balance as port authorities weigh their next steps.
