Castries – Wednesday, January 26, 2011 – The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) incollaboration with Tropical Shipping and relevant Emergency agencies (St. Lucia Fire Service, Bomb Squad, Police Marine Unit and The Royal St. Lucia Police Force), participated in a bomb threat simulation on cargo vessel Tropic Carib at approximately 10:35am on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at Castries Seaport.

Speaking at a brief interview, Mr. Paul Charlery, Deputy Chief of Port Police said “the exercise simulated a suspected explosive device on board the container vessel, Tropic Carib, which was berthed alongside Berth #4. This simulation was planned by the captain of the vessel in collaboration with local response agencies, who all welcomed the invitation to participate in this exercise. The aim of conducting these types of simulations at the port is that we ensure we are satisfying requirements set out in the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and it also enables us to test our response capabilities with regards to an emergency originating from a cargo ship,” concluded Mr. Charlery.

The simulation lasted almost two hours and the Emergency crews were quick to respond cordoning off secure areas and ensuring that the “bomb” was diffused.