The APB organises a mock explosive threat drill on a cruise ship in the port of Palma
The exercise took place on the Seven Seas Grandeur, which evacuated its crew
Palma
25/07/2024
The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) organised an explosive threat drill in the Port of Palma. The exercise took place on the Seven Seas Grandeur cruise ship, which is moored in the West dock.
It involved running a simulation of a hypothetical threat from a suspicious device on the cruise ship. The ship's captain, Aristeidis Mertzanis, ordered the explosive device to be located and the crew to be evacuated. Over 400 of the ship's crew members responded to the emergency instructions by heading to the safety points scattered around the cruise ship. The evacuation of the crew was therefore carried out in an orderly manner.
Subsequently, Port Police officers, acting on orders from the APB Control Centre, also proceeded to evacuate Maritime Station number 6.
This exercise was designed to test and assess how well the Port of Palma and the cruise ship, as well as the different operators involved in the emergency situation, were able to respond. It was an opportunity to exercise and perfect coordination between all those involved, so as to speed up the response to a real situation.
The Guardia Civil, the Palma Fire Department, the Directorate General of Emergencies, the shipping companies Intercruises and the Seven Seas Cruises, the latter made its ship and its entire crew available for the drill, all worked together.
