Port Shield 2026: Large-scale counter-terrorism exercise at Limassol Port

The exercise named "Port Shield 2026", held in July 2026 at the Eurogate Container Terminal (ECTL) in the city of Limassol, Cyprus, was organized as a large-scale counter-terrorism operation with the participation of police, emergency services, and port authorities. Organizers stated that this exercise was the first of its kind conducted at the Limassol port facility using real operational resources. The exercise was organized by the terminal operator Eurogate CTL in cooperation with the Cyprus police and the Cyprus Ports Authority. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of existing security measures, test operational coordination procedures, and strengthen cooperation between public and private sector institutions against potential terrorist threats that could affect ships and port facilities.

The full-scale field exercise, conducted under realistic operational conditions, tested the preparedness and response capabilities of the participating services through a simulated security incident. The exercise was attended by Eurogate CTL managers and personnel, as well as staff from the Cyprus police, ambulance service, Deputy Ministry of Shipping, Cyprus Ports Authority, and DP World Limassol. Alexandros Demetriades, the chief operating officer of Eurogate CTL, said that the exercise provided an opportunity to evaluate both security measures and operational coordination procedures under realistic conditions. Stating, "We are pleased with the successful outcome of the exercise," Demetriades added that the lessons learned would be carefully evaluated to further improve response times and coordination among the participating services.

Demetriades emphasized that this exercise was the first large-scale operation conducted at the Limassol port using real operational resources and with a significant number of participants. "As operators of the container terminal, we handle a significant portion of Cyprus trade on a daily basis, and terminal security remains one of our highest priorities," he said. Demetriades stated that Eurogate CTL will continue to strengthen risk prevention practices and security measures in cooperation with the relevant authorities, expressing their goal to ensure that the terminal remains among the safest container facilities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The exercise once again highlighted the strategic importance of the Limassol port. The port plays a critical role in Cyprus' foreign trade, and such exercises ensure preparedness against possible terrorist attacks. Following the successful completion of the exercise, organizers announced that similar exercises are planned to be repeated at regular intervals. In this way, it is aimed to continuously improve the coordination of both public and private sector institutions.

As a result, the Port Shield 2026 exercise is considered an important step towards increasing the security capacity of the Limassol port. The exercise not only ensured the testing of existing procedures but also strengthened cooperation between the participating institutions. Officials stated that such exercises will continue in the future and that efforts will persist to keep port security at the highest level.