Accidents and response
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The last ten years have seen a steadily growing maritime traffic - a sign for the intensified co-operation in the Baltic Sea region and a prospering economy.
This also means that ship accidents causing marine pollution have become more probable. HELCOM is annually collecting data on ship accidents in the Baltic Sea.
Compilations on Ship Accidents in the Baltic Sea Area:
Major oil incidents in the Baltic Sea 1988 - 2003 resulting in an outflow of more than 100 tons of oil
| Year | Name of ship | Tons of oil spilled | Location |
| 2003 | Fu Shan Hai | 1,200 | Bornholm, Denmark/Sweden |
| 2001 | Baltic Carrier | 2,700 | Kadetrenden, Denmark |
| 1998 | Nunki | 100 m3 | Kalundborg Fjord, Denmark |
| 1995 | Hual Trooper | 180 | The Sound, Sweden |
| 1990 | Volgoneft | 1,000 | Karlskrona, Sweden |
HELCOM working to ensure preparedness
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A swift national and transnational response to marine pollution incidents at sea is of outmost importance - the marine environment of the Baltic Sea is vulnerable and highly sensitive to any release of oil or other harmful substances. The Baltic Sea countries are working together to ensure swift response to the pollution incidents in the Baltic. Around 30 emergency tugs will bollard pull of 50 or more tonnes and more than 45 sea-going response vessels are available in the region and a lot of attention is being paid to establish adequate emergency capacity as well as to meet the challenges of addressing the oil spills in ice. The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan and HELCOM Recommendation 28E/12 "Strengthening of sub-regional co-operation in response field" kicked-off speeded actions to ensure preparedness on sub-regional level in the Baltic, corresponding to "medium-size" accidents, where countries by "sharing" their resources can build a common pool of vessels and equipment sufficient for their area of responsibility.
The preparedness of the HECOM states to jointly respond to pollution incidents has been several times demonstrated following the major oil spills of last decades.
Check the HELCOM Maritime Accident Response Information System MARIS for more information on the accidents in the Baltic Sea and preparedness of the Baltic Sea countries to respond to them.
Links
An updated assessment of the risk for oil spills in the Baltic Sea Area, July 2002