HELCOM countries to discuss maritime activities under the Baltic recovery plan

Helsinki, 10 October (HELCOM Information Service) - The HELCOM Group responsible for steering the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan will hold its regular meeting on 14-15 October in Tallinn which will focus solely on maritime activities under the strategic programme to restore the health of the sea by 2021.

It is expected that the representatives of the Baltic Sea countries will consider further measures to reduce emissions from ships in the Baltic, including new, more stringent requirements on nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions from shipping due to be adopted this Friday by the 58^th session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee. The Meeting will discuss how the entry into force of the revised Annex VI to of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) will affect emissions in the Baltic Sea area and what further steps to limit ship emissions are needed, including possible designation of the Baltic Sea as a NOx Emission Control Area.

“There are a number of very good initiatives under development to tighten the legal regime for discharge and emissions of pollution from ships as well as to decrease the risk of accidents,” says Monika Stankiewicz, HELCOM’s Professional Secretary for maritime and response issues. “If fully recognized and implemented by the Baltic Sea countries, they will substantially improve the situation.”

The Meeting of the Baltic Sea Action Plan Implementation Group will evaluate progress made by the coastal countries under the leadership of Finland in preparing a submission to IMO with a proposal to revise sewage discharge regulations for passenger ships and ferries. Currently international regulations do not contain requirements to remove nutrients from ships’ sewage prior to discharge into the sea. The document is to be jointly submitted by all HELCOM Member States to IMO in 2009 as agreed in the Baltic Sea Action Plan. 

The Meeting will also look into how HELCOM can contribute to the major revision of the Baltic Sea Hydrographic Re-survey Scheme which has recently been decided by the Baltic Sea Hydrographic Commission. The 2002 Re-survey scheme has to be updated and amended e.g. taking into account the current vessel traffic situation based on the data provided by the HELCOM Automatic Identification System, which was launched in 2005. Hydrographic re-surveys to determine sea water depths are essential for the production of reliable nautical charts, including Electronic Nautical Charts (ENCs). ENCs are a pre-requisite for the use of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System onboard ships, which can substantially reduce the risk of grounding. According to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, the requirement to carry them onboard vessels is to be supported by HELCOM countries within IMO.

Among other topmost issues, the Meeting will also evaluate progress in fulfilling the action plan requirements related to the risk assessments of spills of oil and hazardous substances, the development of a mutual plan for places of refuge, the improvement of safety of winter navigation, as well as the realization of the HELCOM road map for the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention.

The Meeting will be conducted by the Chairman of the Baltic Sea Action Plan Implementation Group, Finnish Ambassador Mr. Ole Norrback.

Note to Editors:

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Community working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. 

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:

Ms. Monika Stankiewicz

Professional Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)207 412 643

E-mail: monika.stankiewicz@helcom.fi

Mr. Nikolay Vlasov

Information Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)207 412 635

E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi