HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 4/4

(this Recommendation supplements HELCOM Recommendations 2/4, 2/5 and 2/6)

adopted 2 February 1983, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE USE BY THE BALTIC SEA STATES OF THE MANUAL ON CO-OPERATION IN COMBATTING MARINE POLLUTION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALTIC SEA AREA, 1974, (HELSINKI CONVENTION)

THE COMMISSION,

RECALLING the provisions of Article 11 and Annex VI of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974, (Helsinki Convention), concerning the co-operation between the Contracting Parties in combatting marine pollution,

RECOGNIZING that the establishment of detailed operational guidelines for the conduct of joint combatting actions between two or more Contracting Parties is a prerequisite for a successful result of such actions,

NOTING that such draft guidelines have been worked out by the Expert Group on Co-operation in Combatting Matters for consideration by the Commission at its 4th meeting,

HAVING CONSIDERED these guidelines as contained in the final draft Manual on Co-operation in Combatting Marine Pollution within the Framework of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974, (Helsinki Convention),

ADOPTS the final draft of the Manual for use by the Contracting Parties when co-operating in combatting marine pollution within the Helsinki Convention context,

AUTHORIZES the Expert Group on Co-operation in Combatting Matters to complete, update and amend the Manual as necessary in so far as such measures do not concern matters of principle,

RECOMMENDS that the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention ensure the use of the Manual by their national organizations responsible for dealing with spillages of oil and other harmful substances at sea.