Spain Port Security

The August 2017 Barcelona terrorist attacks and the attacks across Europe have focused greater attention on the threats posed by terrorists pushing Spanish authorities to enhance emergency planning and response capabilities. While Spain has a tradition of effective coordination among its counter terror and public safety agencies, some inter-agency coordination problems are an obstacle to harmonized efforts to carry out the country’s counter terror and public safety missions.

The private security sector is full of potential and has an innovative and creative spirit to adapt to current times and technological changes. New regulatory framework, which promotes coordination and cooperation between public safety and private security, is continuously being updated due to the fast pace of innovation related to this sector. Opportunities for U.S. companies can be found in port security.

The State-owned Spanish Port System Puertos del Estado includes 46 ports of general interest, managed by 28 Port Authorities, whose coordination and control corresponds to the Ministry of Public Works, which is responsible for implementing the government’s port policies.

The importance of ports as links in the logistical and transport chains is supported by the following figures: they handle nearly 60% of exports and 85% of imports, which account for 53% of Spanish foreign trade with the European Union and 96% with third countries.

Each Spanish port has autonomy to create their own security strategies. The recent threat of terrorism pushes port security managers to include data and intelligence as a very important prevention and self-protection area of enforcement. Spain counts on the professionalization and specialization of port police to guarantee the operational safety of ports. Implementing port security regulations can be done by carrying out joint exercises, practices and simulations, and internal security training sessions for the port workers and its community.

Prevention is a big part of the work of port security management and enhancement of its technologies for access controls, perimeter security (security fences, CCTV, sensors) surveillance and dynamic response by both land and sea is critical for the country´s homeland security.

For additional information, please contact Commercial Specialist Angela.Turrin@trade.gov.