HELCOM RESPONSE Meeting discussed measures to improve the emergency capacity in the Baltic
The Fourth Meeting of the Response Group of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM RESPONSE), held in Helsinki 8-10 September 2004, discussed measures to improve the emergency capacity in the Baltic and detection of offenders of anti-pollution regulations.
Special attention during the Meeting was paid to the strengthening of the sub-regional cooperation in the response field with a view to ensure both better preparedness to respond to accidents at sea and efficient use of resources. The delegations exchanged information on the progress made in establishing their national abilities and organizations for response to pollution at sea. Coastal countries also presented their findings on how to improve and establish new cooperation in various parts of the Baltic Sea, e.g. the Gulf of Finland and the South-Eastern part of the Baltic Proper.
Representatives of the coastal countries decided to advance HELCOM’s Maritime Accident Response Information System (MARIS). The system, which presently gives the possibility to assess the maritime situation and response resources in the area, will include additional information on illegal discharges detected during aerial surveillance, on national contact points, and response equipment in stock: booms, skimmers, cargo unloading pumps, etc. An oil drift forecasting tool could also be integrated into the MARIS system.
HELCOM RESPONSE agreed to develop a project proposal on the integration of data from two maritime tracking systems (Seatrack Web and AIS) in order to facilitate the investigation of the illegal discharges. The new proposal will be submitted for adoption to the next meeting of HELCOM Heads of Delegations in November. Presently Denmark as a lead country is continuing work under the Network of Prosecutors General with the aim to develop proposals for a draft HELCOM Recommendation and guidelines on the investigation of the violations of anti-pollution regulations.
The Meeting discussed reports of the recent HELCOM aerial surveillance flights, e.g. CEPCO North and CEPCO South, during which special aircraft from several coastal countries jointly monitored areas with high likelihood of operational oil spills. Contracting Parties adopted the revised pollution observation log and annual reporting format to be used for HELCOM aerial surveillance activities. The revision will ensure that aerial surveillance data from Baltic Sea and North Sea is comparable and can be analysed together. The Meeting also analysed the lessons learned during HELCOM international oil spill response exercise BALEX DELTA held near Warnemunde, Germany, this summer. It was officially announced that the next annual BALEX DELTA exercise will be held in Karlskrona, Sweden, on 31 August - 1 September 2005. Sweden will also host CEPCO North 2005 and CEPCO South 2005 aerial surveillance flights.
HELCOM RESPONSE decided to hold its next regular meeting in April 2005.
Contacts
HELCOM Secretariat
Mr Nikolay Vlasov
Information Secretary
Tel: +358 9 6220 2235
Fax: +358 9 6220 2239
Mr Tadas Navickas
Professional Secretary
Tel: +358 9 6220 2242
Fax: +358 9 6220 2239