The capacity of Emergency Management is one of the most important aspects and its success or failure dictates the resolution / minimisation of the effects of any accident or incident.

 

Aware of this fact APL, SA decided to create the Internal Emergency Plan of the Port of Lisbon - PEIPL so as to avoid within the jurisdiction area accidents (defined as Technological, Natural and Social) and/or minimise their consequences.

 

It consolidated this decision by acquiring an international computer pack to support its Management, on 25 February 1996.

 

The Emergency Plan of APL SA, is an open system that integrates other Emergency / Contingency Plans, comprising the same geographical area – whose natural boundaries are the northern and southern banks of the Tagus, with the alignment of the São Julião da Barra and Bugio lighthouses (Linha de Entre-Torres) downstream and the Marechal Carmona bridge in Vila Franca de Xira upstream.

It is a dynamic plan, updated on a daily basis and with permanent service.

 

The geographical characteristics of the port of Lisbon, human occupation and the applicable legislation namely, the Resolution of the Council of Ministers no 25/93 dated 15 April – Clean Sea Plan and Law no. nº 113/91 dated 29 August – Civil Protection Act, established that the Emergency Plan would enhance :

 

- The Municipal Emergency Plans – the port of Lisbon cohabits with eleven municipalities;

- The specific Internal Emergency Plans for Industrial Activities;

and

- The Safety Plans for Commercial Stores and Service Rendering.

 

So as to co-ordinate the industrial and port use with urban and commercial occupation, with nature conservation and the natural desire of the populations concerning recreation and leisure, PEIPL establishes Measures and Procedures according to the human and material means that it can mobilise and in harmony with the different entities involved:

 

 

For the Directorate and Co-ordination of all the operations – within the jurisdiction area of APL – concerning the management of accidents / incidents of technological, natural and social nature the Operation Co-ordination Centre (CCO) of APL SA was created.

Located at the Co-ordination Centre and Maritime Traffic Control and Safety (Terrapleno de Algés) and in service all year round.

 

Telephones:

213 025 450 or 213 025 401

Fax: 213 025 411

 

It also has a communications system in VHF using channels:

Channel 12 – Normal call from the port,

Channel 16 – Help, Emergency and safety, on permanent watch.

 

All accidents / incidents within the jurisdiction area of APL SA are registered on the Data Base for historical / statistical purposes. All actions / interventions (with financial cost associate to each of them), all the communications issued as well as the reports on the situation are also registered.