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A simulated accident exercise was carried out on the morning of Saturday, 29 November 2025, as part of the Internal Emergency Plan of the Port of Aveiro Authority (APA S.A.). The drill recreated a road accident between two tanker trucks transporting hazardous materials, resulting in a fire at the Liquid Bulk Terminal (TGL).
The main objective of the exercise was to assess the emergency response capacity in accordance with the assumptions of the Internal Emergency Plans of the companies operating berths 24, 25 and 26 — RNM, Digal, GLIA and PRIO — as well as the Internal Emergency Plan of APA S.A.
The exercise began after the alert, at 08:40, reporting an incident near the RNM facilities, followed by emergency communications and the activation of the various Internal Emergency Plans. The intervention teams were immediately mobilised.
The Operations Coordination Centre (CCO) was set up in the communications vehicle of the Aveiro Novos Fire Brigade, stationed at the North Terminal, and included representatives from the various entities responsible for managing the emergency: Port Authority, Maritime Authority, fire brigades, GNR, National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, Civil Protection of Ílhavo Municipality, and the safety managers of the companies involved.
From the CCO, the management of the incident was ensured through established communication channels with the intervention teams on the ground, including company response teams, Ílhavo Volunteer Fire Brigade, Aveiro Velhos Volunteer Fire Brigade, Aveiro Novos Volunteer Fire Brigade, tug crews from Tinita, and the various operational units of APA S.A.
For the first time, the drill also included the use of the Special Firefighting Vehicle (VECI) of the Ílhavo Volunteer Fire Brigade, a unique piece of equipment in Portugal, acquired two months ago.
The fire was declared extinguished at 10:15, and the exercise was officially concluded at 10:20. Around 62 personnel and 28 vehicles were present at the site.
A debriefing session with all participating entities was held at the end, during which the intervention, coordination and emergency response capacity were assessed, and opportunities for improvement were identified.
The drill achieved a performance level considered satisfactory, allowing the validation of current emergency procedures, testing of coordination among all entities involved, and assessment of the capacity of the existing fire networks.
