The 4th Technical Conferences on Security and Emergency Management in the Port Environment, held at Tinglado 1 of the Costa Quay, Port of Tarragona, served as a meeting point for experts and professionals in the sector. The event focused on exchanging experiences and analyzing the main security challenges in ports, addressing topics such as hazardous materials management, chemical emergencies, drone usage, intervention in maritime accidents, and coordination among different bodies and organizations.
Speakers agreed on the need to strengthen institutional cooperation, update protocols, and ensure specialized training. They also highlighted the importance of having adequate human and technical resources and incorporating new technologies to anticipate risks and improve the protection of people, infrastructure, and the port environment.
Santiago J. Castellà, president of the Port Authority of Tarragona, inaugurated the conferences, advocating that security should be an organizational culture, going beyond regulatory compliance. He emphasized the need to reinforce prevention, planning, and coordination among administrations, emergency services, security forces, and companies in the face of increasingly complex risks, pointing to climate change, extreme weather phenomena, and cybersecurity threats as key challenges.
Pedro García, Operations Director of Ports of the State, highlighted the strategic role of the Port of Tarragona as a reference energy infrastructure in the Mediterranean and the diversification of its activities. He presented initiatives by Ports of the State to strengthen security, including the promotion of a technical working group and the update of regulations on hazardous materials in ports.
Jesús Teva, Head of the Integral Security Division at the Port Authority of Tarragona, analyzed current port security challenges, marked by activity diversification and the coexistence of industrial uses with tourism and cruise activities. He reviewed lessons learned from the 2014 and 2021 fires, which have improved preparedness and response, and highlighted the potential of drones for real-time information gathering.
Leandro Melgar, Head of the Security Area at the Operations Directorate of Puertos del Estado, advocated for updating the Regulation on the admission, handling, and storage of hazardous materials in ports to achieve a clearer and more efficient regulatory framework. A working group with experts from various port authorities is being formed to develop a phased update proposal.
Lluís Domingo, Operations Area Officer for the Tarragona Emergency Region of the Bombers de la Generalitat, addressed the difficulties of intervening in accidents with chemical risks on board docked vessels, emphasizing the need for a coordinated response and precise information on the products involved.
Guillem Marcet, Duty Officer at the European Union's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), presented the European intervention in the Arctic Metagaz tanker emergency off the coast of Libya, highlighting the importance of international coordination in managing complex maritime emergencies.
The first panel discussion analyzed lessons from the national exercise POLEX Vigo 2026, focusing on inter-agency coordination and response to complex emergencies such as an electric vehicle fire in a port environment. Participants included representatives from the General Directorate of Merchant Marine, Ports of the State, the Port Authority of Vigo, Salvage Maritime, and the Bombers de la Generalitat.
The second panel discussion examined the uses and challenges of drones in port areas, with participation from representatives of the ports of Tarragona, Salvage Maritime, Bilbao, A Coruña, Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, and Almería. The potential of drones for surveillance, perimeter control, pollution monitoring, and emergency management, as well as challenges in training, resources, and automation, were highlighted.
The third panel, titled 'Chemical Risk Management in Port Environments,' delved into prevention and response to chemical emergencies. Lessons from industrial accidents, the collaboration model between private and public firefighters, the functioning of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, and preparedness for marine pollution emergencies were presented.
The fourth panel, 'The Role of Port Police and Control Centers in a Port Emergency,' discussed coordination, communication system integration, and professional training. Representatives from the Port Authorities of Tarragona, Barcelona, Castellón, Valencia, and Algeciras participated, emphasizing the importance of standardized protocols and real-time monitoring tools.
Josep Lluís Díez, Head of Public Domain and Legal Services at the Port Authority of Tarragona, and Pedro García, Operations Director of Puertos del Estado, closed the conferences, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation among port authorities, administrations, emergency services, and companies to address current security challenges.
