This morning, firefighters from the Consell Insular de Menorca (CIME) and the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) took part in a simulated terrorist attack on board a ship in the port of Maó belonging to the Trasmed shipping company, which was docked at the Cós Nou docks. In the drill, they had to extinguish a fire in the holds of the ferry caused by a bomb explosion and evacuate two injured people who required urgent medical assistance.

In addition to the Fire Brigade, APB and Trasmed security officers, the Civil Guard, Emergencies 112, Port Police, port pilots, the Harbour Master’s Office and the Government Delegation took part in the drill.

The drill began at half past nine in the morning and lasted two hours. It simulated a passenger on board the Ciudad de Barcelona entering a restricted area of the hull without authorisation during the journey. Once in port, an explosion occurred inside a vehicle in the garage, injuring the crew.

The APB activated the various plans established for both civil protection and the fight against terrorism, proceeding first to cordon off the area and evacuate both passengers and crew. Once the firefighters had accessed the ship to take charge of the fire and the injured, a package suspected of containing a second explosive device was located.

The Civil Police then identified the person who had entered the restricted area of the ship and who appeared to be the owner of the suspicious package. Suddenly, the owner of the package pulls out a gun and takes a person hostage. At this point, hostage-taking procedures are activated in the port.

Fire brigade agreement

This drill is part of the third agreement signed between the CIME and the APB on prevention, fire extinguishing, rescue and civil protection, for which the Fire Brigade receives training and an annual financial contribution of 55,000 euros to become the APB’s own intervention team for emergencies in the port of Maó.