Security

Industrial Security

The Ports Law attributes to us the functions of controlling the systems against fires and prevention and emergencies according to the regulations on civil protection; collaborate with the competent administrations in the aforementioned areas, including rescue; and ensure compliance with the regulations that affect the admission, handling and storage of dangerous goods.

Consult article 24 of the Law

Prepare, prevent and act

The implementation of the Self-Protection Plan (PAU), one of the essential tools to guarantee the industrial safety of the Port of Barcelona, is carried out in different ways. General or specific training, information to workers or staff of the Port Community and the periodic performance of drills, practices or exercises are the main ones.

Bomberos en el Port de Barcelona

Agreement with the City Council

The collaboration agreement between Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Port Authority for the exercise of their respective powers in matters of civil protection, fire prevention and extinction, and rescue, regulates the coordinated action between Barcelona Fire Brigade and the port.

A monitoring commission made up of representatives of the Barcelona Fire Department, the Port Authority and the Barcelona Maritime Captaincy reviews the actions and decides on their development and implementation.

Drills and practices

All activities affected by Decree 30/2015, except those of a temporary nature, are obliged to carry out simulations of the activation of the Self-Protection Plan (PAU) at least once a year. These exercises help us to verify the operability of the plan and define the improvement measures that are derived.

The purpose of a drill within the framework of the PAU is:

  • Achieve the coordination of the organisations, facilities and ships involved.
  • Put into practice the activation and action of material and human resources.
  • Improve emergency procedures.

Drills and practices are coordinated by the APB Industrial Safety department and have the active participation of groups acting of the PAU of the port. The following usually take place:

  • General drill of the Port of Barcelona.
  • Drills in the companies of the Port of Barcelona.
  • Joint practices between Bombers de Barcelona and Tugboats from the port.
  • Joint practices between the Barcelona Fire Brigade and the Estibarna Emergency Brigade.

  • Práctica de extinción de incendios en el Port Autor: Joaquim Pol
    Caption
    Práctica de extinción de incendios en el Port (Joaquim Pol)
  • Práctica de prevención de riesgos en manipulación de mercancías Autor: Joaquim Pol
    Caption
    Práctica de prevención de riesgos en manipulación de mercancías (Joaquim Pol)
  • Simulacro de emergencia por riesgo químico Autor: Joaquim Pol
    Caption
    Simulacro de emergencia por riesgo químico (Joaquim Pol)
  • Atención a persona afectada en simulacro de riesgo químico Autor: Joaquim Pol
    Caption
    Atención a persona afectada en simulacro de riesgo químico (Joaquim Pol)
  • Práctica de extinción de incendio con fuego real Autor: Joaquim Pol
    Caption
    Práctica de extinción de incendio con fuego real (Joaquim Pol)
  • Intervención de remolcador durante simulacro Autor: Joaquim Pol
    Caption
    Intervención de remolcador durante simulacro (Joaquim Pol)

Specific training

The risks related to the traffic of dangerous goods, fire-fighting on board vessels and rescuing people are some of the most relevant. It is essential to adequately train and prepare the intervention groups
Bomberos realizando un simulacro en el Port de Barcelona
Addressed to the Barcelona Fire Department
The objective is to adjust as much as possible to a real emergency situation, so the sessions are given by highly qualified personnel in specialized centres and include theoretical and practical parts (partly developed in the port).
Terminal del puerto de Barcelona
Aimed at Dock or terminal operator
RD 145/89 that regulates the admission, handling and storage of dangerous goods establishes the obligation to designate this figure as responsible for the operations of loading or unloading of dangerous goods.

Admission of dangerous goods

The admission, handling and storage of dangerous goods in ports is regulated by RD 145/89 and article 15 is dedicated to those of special danger. The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), includes the current provisions that regulate the transport of dangerous goods by sea and in chapter 1.4.3.1 high-risk ones are defined.

The APB's Industrial Safety Department takes the pertinent steps to issue the essential permit to load or unload this type of goods in the port. In addition, in situ inspections are regularly carried out at container and bulk stowage terminals, as well as documentary inspections of consignees. Dangerous goods represent around 20% of the total volume of port traffic.

 

Risk Prevention Group (GPR)

The PAU contemplates the presence and performance of the Barcelona Fire Brigade as GPR in loading or unloading operations of high-risk dangerous goods at the different stowage terminals. This is intended to ensure rapid intervention in the event of any incident or accident, since the reduction in response time significantly minimises possible consequences.

Check Royal Decree 145/1989