The Vasiliko power plant’s capacity to withstand a terrorist attack was put to the test on Tuesday through the Triton 2024 exercise, involving the ports authority, the police, the fire department and other services.
The exercise took place at the port installation at Vasiliko, simulating a coordinated response to a terrorist attack and fire. The goal was to assess the readiness, response and coordination of all involved services in ensuring the safety of the port installations.
According to the scenario, an unidentified vessel carrying three terrorists approached the Skyra Vassa port jetty at the Vasiliko energy centre. The terrorists opened fire on employees working at the jetty, injuring one worker and taking them hostage.
The attackers then launched a naval flare, igniting a fire in the fuel reservoir at the Vasiliko cement works.
Immediately, the Zygi Ports Authority and security services were mobilised, followed by all other involved agencies. Given the severity of the situation, contingency plans were activated, and the surrounding port installations, along with the communities of Mari and Zygi, were evacuated.
Civil Defence was also called in to assist.
As the scenario progressed, the readiness of the services was assessed, identifying areas for improvement.
Given the importance of the area, the police activated the Triton memorandum in collaboration with the ports authority, aiming to safeguard the energy centre and secure the safety of oil and gas products stored in Vasiliko.
The exercise also tested responses to natural disasters, such as fires, explosions, tsunamis, and earthquakes, as well as man-made threats like terrorist attacks and arson.
The exercise evaluated the effectiveness of Triton and the way the police responded, as well as other services, such as the ports authority, the Skyra Vassa personnel and others in the event of a terrorist attack and/or fire within the limits of the energy centre.
The objective aims of carrying out the exercise are the readiness and response of involved services, their cooperation, the way in which the police and other services are informed, the way the workers are informed by the port installations, the actions of the involved services, during a terrorist attack, and the implementation of police plans related to terrorist attacks.
Furthermore, the exercise aimed at implementing the contingency plans of the ports authority and Skyra Vassa, as well as those of other ports services active in the energy centre.
The need for this annual exercise, organised by the ports authority, emanated from the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) security code.
The organisers consider it “a first class opportunity to evaluate the operational plans of involved services, as well as port installation contingency plans.”
The deputy ministry of shipping, the ports authority, the police, Larnaca police, the police emergency response unit, port and marine police, the fire department, civil defence, Skyra Vassa port installations, Vasiliko cement works, the electricity authority, VTT Vasiliko, oil storage terminal and other services of the energy centre all participated in the exercise.
