The large-scale, high-stakes “Port Shield 2026” counter-terrorism exercise was successfully conducted on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at Eurogate Container Terminal Limassol. The exercise was organised by Eurogate CTL in collaboration with Cyprus Police and the Cyprus Ports Authority.

The exercise aimed to assess the effectiveness of existing security measures, to test and verify operational coordination procedures, and to further strengthen cooperation among all relevant public and private stakeholders in responding effectively to potential terrorist threats affecting the security of ships and port facilities. Conducted as a full-scale field exercise, “Port Shield 2026” simulated realistic operational conditions to evaluate the readiness and response capabilities of the participating services.

The exercise also provided Eurogate CTL with the opportunity to evaluate and further enhance security measures at the terminal while familiarising staff with the actions required and crisis management protocols to be followed in the event of an emergency. The exercise involved Eurogate CTL executives and employees, as well as members and units from Cyprus Police, the Cyprus Ambulance Service, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, the Cyprus Ports Authority and DP World Limassol.

In a statement, Eurogate CTL’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Alexandros Demetriades, said:

“Today, we had the opportunity to test the effectiveness of our existing security measures and operational coordination procedures through a comprehensive simulation exercise conducted under realistic conditions. We are pleased with the successful outcome of the exercise. The lessons learned will be carefully evaluated with the aim of further improving response times and coordination among all participating services. The fact that this is the first large-scale exercise of its kind to be conducted at the Port of Limassol using real operational resources and involving a substantial number of participants, is particularly noteworthy. As operators of the container terminal, which handles a significant share of Cyprus’ trade on a daily basis, terminal security remains one of our highest priorities. We will continue to monitor and strengthen our risk prevention practices and security measures, in close cooperation with the relevant authorities, to help ensure that the terminal continues to operate as one of the safest container terminals in the Eastern Mediterranean.”