STP Shipyard Palma conducted its annual fire prevention drill on 11 December, a vital part of its safety and prevention plan, blending theoretical training with practical emergency response exercises at the yard.
The day kicked off with a training course for the personnel involved, reflecting the yard’s commitment to ongoing training and to the correct application of safety and emergency protocols.
This was followed by two practical exercises.
The first simulated an oil spill at sea due to a vessel leak. A containment barrier was quickly deployed to halt the spread of the spill, while an oil skimmer – a specialised pump for collecting floating liquids – was used, mirroring a real-life environmental emergency scenario.
The second exercise consisted of a simulated fire on a sailing yacht undergoing repairs, with a victim onboard. The scenario began with the detection of a fire caused by a solvent leak that had ignited during welding work.
After detection, emergency protocols were implemented. The crew evacuated the area and oversaw the transfer of evacuated personnel to the covered assembly point, followed by their relocation to the onshore assembly point using the established evacuation routes. On confirming that a worker was unaccounted for, the rescue team was mobilised in coordination with the containment team, the yacht’s crew, Palma City Fire Brigade and STP personnel, with a view to rescuing the victim and containing the fire.
During the intervention, firefighting equipment was used, including a water curtain nozzle, to control the fire and protect surrounding areas.
The drill wrapped up with a joint evaluation meeting bringing together the fire brigade, the STP team and the crew to review the operation, response times and areas for improvement, reinforcing emergency response protocols.
By carrying out exercises of this kind, STP Shipyard Palma underlines its commitment to safety, risk prevention and environmental protection, ensuring an effective and coordinated response to potential incidents at its facilities.
