The Directorate-General of Emergencies and the APB organise a gas leak drill at the Port of Alcúdia
Puert of Alcudia
29/09/2016
The Directorate-General of Emergencies, in coordination with the APB (Port Authority of the Balearic Islands), has today organised a gas leak drill at the Port of Alcúdia. The drill was undertaken to comply with the Seveso Regulation, which establishes that hazardous chemical facilities must have certain plans thoroughly integrated into local civil protection plans and conduct drills every 3 years.
A major unit, comprising emergency services and security forces, was deployed to the port area this morning to carry out the relevant operations, which continued until the action protocol was completed.
The drill entailed a fictitious 1,800-kg propane gas leak at the Repsol facilities in the Port of Alcúdia, which took place during the unloading process of a gas tanker while it was in the liquefied gas unloading dock.
Repsol immediately contacted the Port of Alcúdia's control centre and 112, notifying them of the incident. The Directorate-General of Emergencies and Interior automatically activated level 2 of the External Emergency Plan.
Besides the APB and the Directorate-General of Emergencies, the Government Delegation of the Balearic Islands, Repsol, the Guardia Civil, the Fire Service of Mallorca, and the Local and Port Police all participated in the drill.
In compliance with the safety check of the Port of Alcúdia, the APB carried out an assessment on the harbour station and inside the Martin Soler de Baleària vessel on which the passengers hypothetically travelled. Meanwhile, the different companies that operate at the Port of Alcúdia, under the authority of the Directorate-General of Emergencies of the Balearic Government, who organised the initiative, were brought up to date with events.
The emergency services activated the External Emergency Plan and the APB provided its services, offering the emergency services its port pilots and tugboats, while respecting the measures established to control environmental impacts and marine pollution.
In order to ensure safety and the proper undertaking of the drill, the Local Alcúdia Police and the Guardia Civil restricted accesses to the town centre, while the Port Police restricted accesses to the port area.
