General Port Facility Security Exercise Held at the Port of Dubrovnik Authority

On Friday, 30 October 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., a General Port Facility Security Exercise was conducted at Berth No. 10 in the Port of Gruž, within the port operational area managed by the Port of Dubrovnik Authority.

The passenger vessel Arethusa, operated by Grand Circle Cruise Line and flying the Maltese flag, participated in the exercise. The vessel has a capacity of 48 passengers and 22 crew members, a length of 59.60 metres and a gross tonnage of 1,206 GT (IMO No. 9398022).

In addition to the Port of Dubrovnik Authority, the exercise involved the relevant emergency services and other stakeholders within the port system, including the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Police Administration, the Dubrovnik Harbour Master's Office, the Dubrovnik Customs Office, Securitas Hrvatska security company, the Dubrovnik Public Fire Brigade, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Institute of Emergency Medicine, the Ministry of the Interior – Directorate of Civil Protection, Split Regional Civil Protection Office, Dubrovnik Civil Protection Service (County 112 Emergency Communications Centre), a port tugboat, a harbour pilot, the marine pollution response service with its eco-vessel, and representatives of Luka Dubrovnik d.d. responsible for stevedoring and parking services.

The exercise scenario was based on a simulated report of a suspicious object discovered aboard the passenger vessel Arethusa, with the assumption that it could be an explosive device.

Upon the vessel's arrival at the Port of Gruž and berthing at Berth No. 10, the ship's Master notified the Port of Dubrovnik Authority via VHF radio on Channel 09 of the suspicious object discovered on board. Following receipt of the report, the prescribed procedures for notifying the relevant authorities, assessing the security threat and implementing priority measures to protect the vessel, passengers, crew and port area were simulated.

The exercise assessed the readiness of the Port of Dubrovnik Authority and all participating services to respond promptly, in a coordinated and effective manner, to a security threat within the port operational area, with particular emphasis on inter-agency communication, information exchange and the implementation of established security procedures.

The exercise once again highlighted the importance of cooperation among all port stakeholders in maintaining a high level of security for passengers, crew, vessels and port infrastructure. It also reinforced a key message - every report of a potential threat must be treated as a genuine security threat until the competent authorities have carried out the necessary inspection and established otherwise.

The Port of Dubrovnik Authority would like to thank all participants for their cooperation, professionalism and valuable contribution to the successful implementation of the exercise.