Maharashtra: Over 1,000 Unregistered Boats Found During Raigad Coastal Security Sweep

The Raigad district police have identified 1,000 fishing boats operating without valid registration along Maharashtra’s coastline. The 

The finding emerged  during a search operation launched after a suspected Pakistani vessel was detected off the coast near Korlai fort earlier this week.

"During the search for the suspected boat, we came across a significant number of boats operating without registration. The list has been forwarded to the fisheries department for appropriate action,” said Aanchal Dalal, Superintendent of Police, Raigad.

The search was initiated following an alert from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Sunday night. The ICG had spotted a vessel named Muqadar Boya 99, bearing MMSI number 463800411, on its radar. However, a preliminary assessment later identified it as a drifting fishing buoy fitted with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder that had likely drifted into Indian waters from the Arabian Sea. Police confirmed that a search for the buoy is still underway.

Highlighting the security implications, Raigad SP Aanchal Dalal stressed the need for mandatory vessel registration, citing both safety and surveillance concerns.“Boat registration is critical for ensuring coastal safety. It allows us to track vessels in emergencies and helps safeguard fishermen at sea,” she said.

The development has prompted renewed scrutiny of coastal monitoring mechanisms in the State. Officials noted that such large-scale non-compliance could hamper emergency response and pose potential risks, especially given the State’s vulnerability to sea-based infiltration.

In November 2008, 10 armed terrorists from Pakistan infiltrated Mumbai via the sea route using a fishing trawler, leading to coordinated attacks across the city and the death of 166 people.