HELCOM commences risk analysis of shipping accidents in the Baltic

Helsinki, 22 June (HELCOM Information Service) - The Helsinki Commission for the protection of the Baltic marine environment is commencing the first overall risk analysis of shipping accidents for the Baltic Sea. This analysis is the initial part of the BRISK Project on assessing sub-regional risk of spills of oil and hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea, which has been recently launched by HELCOM and involves all Baltic Sea countries. Based on the risk analysis, BRISK will identify the missing emergency and response resources and the required level of preparedness in each of six maritime sub-regions of the Baltic Sea.

The methodology to be used in modeling the risk of accidental pollution by ships will be discussed by Project partners on 25-26 June 2009 in Aarhus, Denmark. The Meeting will be hosted by the Lead Partner of the Project, the Admiral Danish Fleet.

“For the first time the risk analysis will cover the whole Baltic Sea and will be based on a common methodology for each Baltic Sea country”, says Commander Peter Søberg Poulsen of the Admiral Danish Fleet Head Quarter and BRISK Project Manager. “At the same time, it will take into account specifics of different sub-regions, like ice conditions in the winter time in the northern Baltic or heavy maritime traffic in the Danish Straits and the Gulf of Finland. Based on the detailed sub-regional data to be delivered by the countries, the model will indicate the likelihood of shipping accidents and pollution spills now and in the future.”

The BRISK Project will help to prepare investment plans on how the Baltic Sea countries can jointly improve preparedness to tackle medium-size and large spills of oil and hazardous substances. Thus, the neighboring countries will be able to create a joint pool of vessels and equipment in each sub-regional marine area in the Baltic and share the investment burden in a cost-effective way.

BRISK will run for three years and is co-financed by the European Union within the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013. Its total budget amounts to around EUR 3.3 million, with approximately EUR 2.5 million to be allocated from the European Regional Development Fund. BRISK has been chosen as one of the strategic projects within the Baltic Sea Region Programme due to its importance for the sustainable development of the Baltic Sea Region. It has also been included in the proposed EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region as a flagship project.

Follow-up:

The BRISK Project web site: http://www.helcom.fi/projects/on_going/en_GB/BRISK/

Note to Editors:

The Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation between the countries bordering the sea - Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and also the European Community.  

HELCOM is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area," more usually known as the Helsinki Convention.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Peter Soeberg Poulsen

Admiral Danish Fleet HQ

National Operations

Maritime Environment

Tel: +45 89433405

Fax: +45 89433427

E-mail: pol.con.den@sok.dk

Ms. Ulla Ahonen

Communications Officer

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)207 412 637

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639

E-mail: ulla.ahonen@helcom.fi