HELCOM launches new information web service

HELCOM on 15 June officially launched the Maritime Accident Response Information System (MARIS). It contains data on the response, emergency and aerial surveillance capacities, sensitivity of the coastline to oil pollution, ship traffic and other relevant aspects in the Baltic Sea area. The system is now available through the HELCOM web site (www.helcom.fi).

MARIS is considered to be a useful tool for the collection and displaying of information as well as for the risk assessment in the response field. It can be used to view different oil spill risks and response related datasets over a common background map and in different combinations. The system also gives possibilities for the officials and other experts in each country to assess the maritime risks and response resources in their areas, as they are the ones who can –based on their knowledge and expertise of local conditions- make the best estimations of their own areas.

During crisis situations the system could be very effective for operational use. MARIS can provide information on the response resources and level of danger to ecosystem in the area of an oil spill. Data from the MARIS system is also important for cooperation between countries during accidents in the Baltic Sea. It can be instrumental for combining emergency response resources on all levels – national, sub regional and overall.

MARIS is based on the geographical information system (GIS) and consists of a number of datasets that can be roughly divided in to four categories:

1. areas most sensitive and vulnerable to oil spills
2. maritime traffic and risk distribution
3. available resources for oil spill response in the Baltic Sea area
4. geographical background information

The MARIS system was created by combining already existing data from different sources: studies, analyses and statistics that have been or are still collected and updated annually. Most of the data is collected as part of the HELCOM work, but some data has been collected through other sources.

The basis of the MARIS system has been developed by Finnish Environment Institute. The project was later funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Recently, the Nordic Council of Ministers gave the custody of the MARIS project to the Helsinki Commission.

The intended users of MARIS are mainly the competent oil pollution response authorities of the Baltic Sea states, the Nordic Council of Ministers and HELCOM.

Contacts

HELCOM Secretariat

Mr Nikolay Vlasov
Information Secretary
Tel: +358 9 6220 2235
Fax: +358 9 6220 2239