HELCOM MARITIME targets pollution and navigational safety in the Baltic

The new recommendations will be submitted for approval by the 25th meeting of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) in Helsinki in March 2004. The two proposals designed to address pollution from ships concern new guidelines on the discharge of sewage from pleasure craft, and recommendations on the installation of oily-water separation equipment in larger ships.

Two additional recommendations address the safety of winter navigation, and assessments of the need for escort towing in tanker shipping routes. These proposals bring to life the principles of the HELCOM Copenhagen Declaration, adopted by the Ministers of Transportation and Environment of the Baltic Sea countries in 2001, shortly after the accident involving the “Baltic Carrier”, which led to the spillage of 2,700 tonnes of oil.

“I consider it to be a great success, that we managed to find the necessary compromises and to agree on the texts of these highly important regulations, even though some Contracting Parties requested more time to decide on their final positions,” says Ingelore Hering, Chairperson of HELCOM MARITIME. “HELCOM has once again demonstrated its capacity to serve as a basis for the joint efforts of the nine coastal states and the European Community to protect and preserve the environment of the Baltic Sea.”

Combating wastes, air pollution and alien species

HELCOM MARITIME has also agreed on a package of initiatives related to HELCOM’s Baltic Strategy on port-reception facilities for ship-generated wastes. The new measures are designed to encourage ships to dispose of their wastes and cargo residues in ports, rather than discharging them into the sea.

The Stockholm meeting also resolved to give more emphasis in future to the wider environmental impacts of shipping, including air pollution and the introduction of alien aquatic species. Participants stressed the need to examine global developments regarding these serious issues, and to find ways to address these problems in the Baltic context.

The full minutes of the Second Meeting of the Maritime Group of the Helsinki Commission can be found on the HELCOM website www.helcom.fi together with plenty of information on other environmental initiatives affecting the Baltic Sea.

Contacts

Chair of HELCOM MARITIME
Ms Ingelore Hering
Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency
Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 78
D-20359 Hamburg
Germany
Tel: +49 40 31902000
Fax: +49 40 31901004

HELCOM Secretariat
Mr Tadas Navickas
Professional Secretary
Phone: +358 9 6220 2242
Mobile: +358 50 3683 802
Fax: +358 9 6220 2239