A Terrorism drill was held at the Yangshan Deep-water Port in Shanghai yesterday to ensure security officials are able to secure the port and all ships in the event of an attack.

The exercise, which covered the Yangshan port area and the Donghai Bridge, was held just weeks before the first phase of the port and bridge open in early December.

Nearly 200 officials from 10 government departments and soldiers participated in the drill.

The drill began with a peaceful scenario, in which cranes were busy working with containers from an international ship at berth No. 2.

The exits and entries were staffed around the clock and more than 200 electronic detectors were overlooking the whole port and the bridge.

The license plates on all the vehicles entering the area were scanned and identified.

When the security level moved to 2, a level mainly used for visits by important officials, staff were added to various posts.

Inspections were tightened and security personal patrolled the port and bridge more frequently.

In addition, the area holding dangerous goods containers, power stations, oil tanks and the port front were sufficiently staffed to ensure security. After the port security officials were informed two terrorists had hid in a container on a newly arrived ship, the highest security level were enacted.

All work stopped and workers and cars were quickly moved away from the site.

A helicopter was dispatched to a nearby site.

Patrol and rescue ships were put on high alert.

All the exits and entries were closed leaving only one emergency passage.

The Donghai Bridge was closed and road blocks were set up.

A 20-member special forces team quickly searched the containers and found the suspected box.

One terrorist was seized after the soldiers flung open the container while the other fled to the area holding dangerous goods.

Refusing to submit, the terrorist set off a mock suicide bomb, setting the container on fire.

A curtain-shaped spray of water was started immediately to stop the fire and two fire engines arrived at the site in no time.

While masked firefighters were busy dealing with the fire, forklifts immediately removed nearby containers to prevent further losses.

"The exercise was held according to the city's newly issued security plan," said Xu Peixing, director of the Shanghai Port Administrative Bureau and commander of the drill. "We will hold the drill every year to ensure the Yangshan port meets international standards of securities."

The first phase of the Yangshan port, which includes five berths, is expected to have an annual capacity of 3 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). It will be China's first bonded port.

(Shanghai Daily November 24, 2005)