The Tinglado 1 of the Moll de Costa of the Port de Tarragona hosted the IV Technical Conference on Security and Emergency Management in the Port Environment, a meeting that served to share experiences and analyze the main challenges of security in ports. The sessions addressed issues such as the management of dangerous goods, chemical emergencies, the use of drones, intervention in maritime accidents, and coordination between different bodies and organizations.
Throughout the conference, 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.
The president of the Port Authority of Tarragona, Santiago J. Castellà, inaugurated the conference, arguing that security should be part of the culture of organizations and go beyond regulatory compliance. He emphasized the need to strengthen prevention, planning, and coordination among administrations, emergency services, security forces, and companies to face increasingly complex and interconnected risks. Among the main current challenges, he pointed out climate change, extreme weather events, and cybersecurity threats.
For his part, Pedro García, Director of Port Operations at Puertos del Estado, highlighted the strategic role of the Port de Tarragona as a benchmark energy infrastructure in the Mediterranean, as well as the diversification of port activity, with traffic such as cereals, other agri-food products, and vehicles. He also advocated for cooperation between port authorities and administrations to promote the exchange of knowledge. In this regard, he presented Puertos del Estado's initiatives to strengthen security, including the promotion of a technical working group and the updating of regulations on dangerous goods in ports.
Jesús Teva, Head of the Comprehensive Security Division of the Port Authority of Tarragona, analyzed the current challenges of port security, conditioned by the diversification of activities and the coexistence of industrial uses with those linked to tourism and cruises.
Teva reviewed the lessons learned from the fires in 2014 and 2021, which have contributed to improving preparation and response to emergencies. The first highlighted the need to specifically train firefighters in maritime risks, while the second demonstrated advances in response automation and coordination of intervention teams. He also advocated for professionalization, specialized training, and adequate provision of human and material resources, and highlighted the potential of drones to obtain real-time information.
For his part, Leandro Melgar, Head of the Security Area of the Directorate of Port Operations at Puertos del Estado, advocated for updating the Regulation on the admission, handling, and storage of dangerous goods in ports to have a clearer, more homogeneous, and efficient regulatory framework. The review should allow for defining the competencies of the agents involved, strengthening the specialized training of operators, and improving protection and emergency plans. To this end, a working group with experts from different port authorities is being formed to develop a phased update proposal.
The officer of the Operations Area of the Tarragona Emergency Region of the Generalitat Firefighters, Lluís Domingo, addressed the difficulties of intervening in accidents with chemical risk on board docked vessels. He stressed that these incidents require a coordinated response adapted to the particularities of the port environment. To plan the intervention, he highlighted the importance of having precise information on the products involved, weather conditions, and the potential scope of the incident, in order to delimit safe zones, plan access, and dimension the necessary resources.
Before the first break of these conferences, Guillem Marcet, Duty Officer of the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) of the European Union, presented the European intervention in the emergency of the Arctic Metagaz LNG carrier, damaged in international waters off the coast of Libya. The action combined specialized technical support, satellite observation by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and advice to the Libyan authorities to identify damage to one of the liquefied natural gas tanks and assess the risks of fire, explosion, and pollution of the Mediterranean. The case served to highlight the importance of international coordination in the management of complex maritime emergencies and in reducing risks to people and the environment.
The first round table analyzed the lessons from the national exercise POLEX Vigo 2026, especially regarding coordination between agencies and response to complex emergencies, such as the fire of an electric vehicle in the port environment.
Participants included Federico Navarro, from the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine; Leandro Melgar, from Puertos del Estado; Juan José Martín, from the Port Authority of Vigo; José Manuel Allegué, from Salvamento Marítimo, and Oriol Pellisa, from the Generalitat Firefighters. Participants shared experiences on coordination between agencies and joint response capacity. The session was moderated by Íñigo Landeta, head of the Tarragona Rescue Center of Salvamento Marítimo.
Speakers highlighted that joint exercises allow for a better understanding of the functions and capabilities of each organization, anticipating the evolution of emergencies, and building trust among intervention teams. They also valued the collaboration model between the Port de Tarragona and the Generalitat Firefighters as an example of good practices that could be extended to other ports. In onboard emergencies, they particularly emphasized the role of Salvamento Marítimo and Capitanía Marítima, which provide the knowledge of the maritime environment necessary to facilitate the intervention of firefighters.
The session concluded with the willingness to expand this cooperation model and incorporate more organizations in future exercises.
The second round table analyzed the uses and challenges of drones in port facilities. Moderated by Mateo Vara, Head of the Port Security and Protection Department of Puertos del Estado, it featured Jesús Teva, from the Port de Tarragona; Néstor Perales, from Salvamento Marítimo; Jorge Arce, from the Port de Bilbao; Luis Durán, from the Port de la Coruña; Sergi Ruiz, from the Port de Barcelona; Javier Reus, from the Port de las Baleares, and Manuel Serrano, from the Port de Almería.
Teva explained that the Port de Tarragona started the drone project in 2021 and currently has about twenty trained pilots to carry out surveillance tasks, perimeter control, pollution monitoring, and emergency management. The next step, he said, is to move towards flight automation and integrate this technology into the port control center.
For his part, Perales highlighted the applications of drones in maritime surveillance and spill analysis; Arce defended the need for a dedicated 24-hour service, and Durán emphasized the potential of automation to reduce response times. Ruiz presented the evolution of this technology in the Port de Barcelona, with thermal cameras, laser sensors, and remote operations. Reus explained the training of the Balearic teams, while Serrano stressed the importance of regular use to maintain the pilots' experience.
Participants agreed on the need to consolidate training, have more resources, and integrate drones into regular operations. Automation is one of the main future challenges, along with improving emergency response capacity. During the Q&A session, it was also noted that, although unauthorized drones can currently be detected, tools to neutralize them are still lacking.
The third round table, titled "Chemical risk management in port environments" and moderated by Javier Sáez, director of KEMLER and representative of Bequinor, delved into the prevention and response to chemical emergencies.
Felipe González Ríos, from KEMLER, presented the lessons that can be drawn from major industrial accidents, such as the Beirut port explosion, and the risks associated with inadequate storage of ammonium nitrate. He stressed the need to separate incompatible materials, avoid the presence of combustible substances, and ensure adequate storage conditions.
Ángel Lozano, manager of the Tarragona Chemical Parks, presented the collaboration model between the private firefighters of chemical companies and the Generalitat Firefighters. Proximity, continuous training, and information exchange allow for streamlining the initial intervention and facilitating the action of public services, which assume command of the emergency upon arrival at the scene.
Moisés Galán, a national expert seconded to the ERCC, explained the operation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, based on the responsibility of each state and solidarity between countries when their own resources are insufficient. This system facilitates the mobilization of specialized capabilities, the exchange of experts, and operational support under the command of the affected country.
Gracia Albuquerque, Head of the Environment, Special Operations, and Pollution Control Area of the Maritime Search and Rescue Society (SASEMAR), addressed operational preparedness and response capacity to marine pollution emergencies.
Pablo Pedrosa, Head of the Marine Pollution Area of the General Subdirectorate of Security, Pollution, and Maritime Inspection of the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine, explained how the emergence of new fuels is transforming port logistics and ship bunkering operations. In this context, he highlighted the need to adapt the preparation of berthing operations to the new requirements associated with the fuels that propel ships.
The fourth and last round table, titled "The role of the Port Police and control centers in a port emergency," focused the debate on coordination between services, the integration of communication systems, and the training of professionals.
Participants included Joan Bergadà, superintendent of the Port Police of the Port Authority of Tarragona; Jaume Molina, superintendent of the Port Police of the Port Authority of Barcelona; Luis Oria, head of the Security Division of the Port Authority of Castelló; José Luis Pérez Amieva, head of Industrial Security of the Port Authority of Valencia, and Manuel Sánchez de Alcázar García, head of the Port Protection and Security Area of the Port Authority of Algeciras. Speakers shared experiences on the role of operational control centers in detecting and managing incidents, mobilizing resources, and coordinating with firefighters, health services, and local police.
Participants highlighted the importance of having standardized protocols, integrated communication systems, and tools that allow for real-time monitoring of actions, from the activation of resources to the closure of the emergency.
Prevention also played a prominent role in the debate. Prior communication with control centers before carrying out special work, operator preparation, and continuous training contribute to reducing risks and improving response. Speakers also advocated for the need to adapt Port Police services to new operational needs, ensure adequate staffing, and define the competencies and responsibilities of each actor.
Josep Lluís Díez, Head of Public Domain and Legal Services of the Port Authority of Tarragona, and Pedro García, Director of Port Operations at Puertos del Estado, closed the IV Technical Conference on Security and Emergency Management in the Port Environment. Both highlighted the importance of continuing to advance cooperation between port authorities, administrations, emergency services, and companies to address the current challenges of port security, in a context marked by the emergence of new risks and the increasing complexity of operations.
