Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz 02, December 2011
Today was held a greater mock (code 3) on the inside of the port of Coatzacoalcos, in order to comply with current regulations and evaluate the effectiveness of emergency response plans port also allows the measurement of coordination and response times to such incidents.
The drill was organized by the Committee of Civil Protection and Security of the Port, Comité Local de Ayuda Mutua A.C., Oxiteno México, S.A. de C.V. and Grupo Celanese, S. de R.L. de C.V., in coordination with the Municipal Civil Protection, Harbor, Navy Department, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Health, Port Authority of Coatzacoalcos, S.A. de C.V., Coatzacoalcos Customs, National Institute of Migration, Federal Preventive Police, PROFEPA, SEMARNAT, IMSS, CAPUFE, OCACSA, Sanitary District No. XI, Community Hospital, Hospital Pemex, Intermunicipal Police, Red Cross, Fire Municipal State, Delegation of Public Transportation and the Port dealers.
As part of the exercise, 2 civil protection events were held simultaneously:
The first began at 10:10 hours, the contingency was registered in the company premises Oxiteno Mexico, SA de CV, to perform the transfer operation of a tank car loaded with ethylene oxide. There was a leak into the storage tank due to the rupture of a flexible hose. A person who was supervising the unloading knocked unconscious by inhalation of gas and there is a risk that vapors from reaching the Maritime Terminal Celanese, Multiver de Coatzacoalcos, S.A. de C.V., Transgolfo Terminals, S.A. de C.V., Marina Shipyard Facilities and neighboring colonies. The simulation was treated according to the Emergency Plan of the Port
The second event took place from 10:15 am, in the courtyards of transfer of the company Grupo Celanese, S.A., derived from the general stop process, a pipe performed an inadequate maneuver, where a hosepipe was broken and discharged ethyl acetate, causing a spill of material and then generated a fire.
The main security activities were:
° Start on the Emergency Plan through the General Alert System of the Port.
° Coordinate communication and actions that were applied to control of emergencies.
° The Unified Command Center was setup in the boardroom of the harbourmaster.
° The collection center for foreign aid was established between Piers No. 7 and 8.
° All employees and workers of the Port were evacuated.
° All employees and workers of Marina Shipyard No. 3 were evacuated.
Considering both cases, the port security level was raised to Level 2 at 10:17 hours, at this level were not allowed the entry of people, cars and trucks within the port.
With the participation of emergency crews of the companies involved, they worked internally to evacuate its personnel to a safe area and control the leak and fire in the shortest time possible. Using the proper equipment and trained personnel to deal with such eventualities.
The mobilization was approximately of 1,500 people evacuated from the port area, 800 people from the Navy Shipyard and surrounding neighborhood, also about 550 colonists settled to the south of the port, these ones were taken to an evacuation point with support and participation of the municipality of Coatzacoalcos.
During the drill, ship operations were suspended and resumed at 11:08 hours.
This type of exercises makes posible to measure response times of emergency units and personnel working inside the port area, this way also the surrounding communities can learn, in a practical and quick mode, how to react as quickly as possible to the emergency calls emited by the alarm system of the port.
At the end of both simulations, an evaluation meeting was carried out with the participation of those involved, which identified improvement opportunities to reduce response times, improve communication and prevent human and material losses, in the event a real contingency.
With these actions, the Port of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico's leader in bilk cargo, maintains its high standards in civil protection and security.
Thank you for your participation and support, for the realization of this important exercise.
"BEING PREPARED FOR A REAL EMERGENCY, IS COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL"