The Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution

Maritime Search and Rescue Service

Exercise:

International Exercise on Oil Pollution Combating at Sea (BALEX DELTA 2006)

(Poland)

The aim of this exercise type is partly to test the alarm procedure, the response capability, and the response time of the contracting Parties, partly to test and train the staff functions and the co-operation between response units (including the response equipment) of the Contracting Parties.

Total Budget: €33,308

Contribution: €16,585

Workshop:

Pollutant monitoring and ecological impact assessment following accidental oil or other chemical spills in marine waters

(France)

The proposal is in line with three other actions funded or proposed for funding: a workshop on "Environmental Restoration and ecological Monitoring", a workshop on "Environmental Damage", and a pilot project "A Pragmatic and Integrated Approach for the Evaluation of Environmental Impact of Oil and Chemicals spilled at Sea".

The project consists of a workshop which will present the outcome of the above-mentioned projects. The states-of-the-art and the potential of the methodologies will be presented. Guidelines and synthesis will be proposed.

Total Budget: €99,977

Contribution: €71,360

Training course:

Overview on the methodology to respond to chemical pollution by HNS at sea and on the sea-bed (Response to chemical pollution)

Institut für Kreislaufwirtschaft GmbH (IKrW)

(Germany)

The training course will give an overview on the methodology to respond to chemical pollution by HNS at sea and on the sea-bed. The objectives are:

To familiarise the participants with methods of intervention which allow the minimisation of effects of chemical pollution and methods to recover or neutralise chemical substances
To promote the exchange of knowledge among professionals and contribute to the development of a European expert network.

Total Budget: €98,831

Contribution: €74,873

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Workshop:

Claims Management following Shipping Pollution Incidents

(United Kingdom)

The aim of the workshop is to bring together coastal European Member States (including Norway and Iceland), for the purpose of sharing experiences in respect of claim management and cost recovery actions following shipping accidents which cause, or threaten to cause, marine and shoreline pollution. The purpose would be to compare best cost recovery practices with an aim to improving percentage recovery rates for individual authorities.

Total Budget: €101,000

Contribution: €75,000

IRIS - International Research Institute of Stavanger AS

II. Actions for Improving Techniques and Methods of response and rehabilitation (Pilot Projects)

Properties of Russian oils and the applicability of dispersants (Analysis of Russian oil)

Swedish Coast Guard

(Sweden)

The objective of the project is to analyse both Russian crude and bunker oils. Analyses of chemical and physical properties and weathering of the oil will be performed. The results will increase the knowledge of how these oils will change after a spill as well as to determine how effective dispersants are when used in the response of an oil spill. Guidelines for use of dispersants in case of an oil spill of Russian oil in the Baltic Sea Region will be established. Operational use of the results of the analyses is of great importance to organisations responsible for response to oil spill.

Total Budget: €114,056

Contribution: €54,620

Response means to chemicals spilled at sea and environmental damage (Response to chemical spills - RESPILL)

(Norway)

The project will propose a panel of well-established biological- and ecotoxicological methodologies for their use in the assesment of environmental damage and recovery following chemical pollution. The usefulness of the methodologies will be tested in laboratory controlled conditions and in field (mesocosm) conditions using a selection of representative chemicals and marine bivalves as sentinel organisms. The outcome of this project should have valuable implication in the monitoring of chemical pollution through cooperation among Member states, implementation of evaluation methods in EU guidelines and other international working groups.

Total Budget: €299,005

Contribution: €148,154

Management Unit of North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM), Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS)

Pilot Project including exercise:

Super CEPCO

(Belgium)

The first objective is to perform a continuous monitoring of ship-source marine pollution by oil or other harmful substances which can be traced at the sea surface. The second objective is to evaluate the use of satellites for marine pollution monitoring and surveillance. The third objective is to maximize the chance of catching MARPOL offenders red-handed while discharging oil or other harmful substances in the sea and finally, the results of the operation and the outcome of the evaluation workshop will enable the project team to draft European Guidelines on oil pollution monitoring, detection and reporting procedures for use at national and at sub-regional level.

Total Budget: €497,034

Contribution: €267,056

MUMM Press Release

Photo gallery

Marine Pollution Monitoring and mitigation by Remote Sensing (MAPRES)

CoNISMa

(Italy)

The project uses data provided by oil slick remote sensing observation to feed hydrodynamic models applied to forecast threatened areas: well-timed mitigation and recovering measures in a disaster occurrence.

Total Budget: €300,000

Contribution: €150,000

III. Support and Information Actions (Environmental impact, conferences and events)

No Support and Information Actions were financed under the Call for proposals 2006 of the Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution.

IV. Mobilisation of Experts

No mobilisation of experts was financed under the Call for proposals 2006 of the Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution.

2005 - financed projects

I. Actions in Training and Information (Courses and Workshops, exchange of experts and exercises)

Workshop:

Organisational and practical aspects for the minimisation of environmental damages in case of marine pollution

Institut für Kreislaufwirtschaft GmbH (IKrW)

(Germany)

Organise a workshop to make comprehensive the complex nature of the sea and the causes for pollution, on an international level, – with particular consideration to the monitoring, assessment, intervention techniques and health/safety aspects (working with volunteers). The overall aims are to contribute to the minimisation of environmental damages, to contribute to the consideration of health and safety aspects, to promote the exchange of knowledge, to contribute to the build-up and extension of European expert networks, to promote the increase of the capacities of the European Institutions.

Total Budget: €99,959

Contribution: €74,969

Workshop:

Heavy oil: What do we know? What do we still ignore? Which possible responses?

(France)

The common designation of "heavy fuel oils" covers a wide diversity of products presenting different behaviours, characteristics and impacts. The workshop aims at identifying what is known and what is unknown in terms of behaviour, fate and impact of heavy fuel oils and determine which possible response could be addressed.

Total Budget: €99,977

Contribution: €74,977

Presentation

Training Course:

Specialised training course for oil pollution monitoring and detection

Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee

(France)

The objectives of this 3-days specialised training course are twofold:

Improve and stimulate co-operation in the field of the use of aerial and satellite remote sensing means for the monitoring of accidental and deliberate marine pollution by oil;
Pave the way to a specialised workshop with representatives from all the countries active in that field dedicated to the writing down of guidelines on pollution monitoring and detection procedures used at European level.

Total Budget: €99,733

Contribution: €78,800

Presentation

Workshop:

The impact of oil spills on seabirds: towards an effective impact assessment

Project website

Marine Ecology and Evolution

(The Netherlands)

To organise an international workshop, to discuss goals and share previous experiences with leading experts and to produce a set of guidelines (a manual) with concrete research recommendations for impact assessments regarding oiled seabirds in future (heavy) oil spills.

Total Budget: €82,538

Contribution: €61,900

European Workshop and pilot project:

European oiled wildlife response planning

Stichting Noodfonds Zeezoogdieren Sea Alarm

(Belgium)

The overall objective of the project is to initiate the exchange of information and experiences between the different Member States regarding oiled wildlife response to develop a set of tools and a draft international response plan by which Member States, individually and/or jointly, could achieve a higher state of preparedness for oiled wildlife incidents in a rational, cost-efficient way. The proposed project aims to facilitate a process by undertaking a workshop and a pilot project on 'European oiled wildlife response planning'.

Total Budget: €163,500

Contribution: €105,000

Workshop:

The development of good practice guidelines regarding the cleaning and rehabilitation of oiled wildlife (particularly oiled birds) during an oil spill incident

Mundo Aquatico SA

Zoomarine Park

(Portugal)

The overall objective of this proposal is to:

Bring European marine wildlife responders from all coastal Member States, Norway and Iceland together to exchange experiences in the field of oiled wildlife rehabilitation at European level, to discuss and agree on methodologies and approaches to clean and rehabilitate oiled birds and other animals under the conditions of an oil spill response;

Develop guidance on best practices for the collection, cleaning, rehabilitation of oiled sea animals as an integrated part of an oil spill response based on the experiences of the workshop participants, international experts and other internationally available information on the subject.

Total Budget: €103,400

Contribution: €75,000

II. Actions for Improving Techniques and Methods of response and rehabilitation (Pilot Projects)

A pragmatic and integrated approach for the evaluation of environmental impact of oil and chemicals spilled at sea: input to European guidelines

Project website

IRIS - International Research Institute of Stavanger AS

RF-Akvamiljψ / Marine Environment

(Norway)

The project will address issues that relate to the evaluation of the long lasting environmental impact of spill related to aging processes of substances from past accidents along the EU coastal zone. The project aims at implementing well-established methodologies based on biological marker measurements as decision-making criteria for the assessment of environmental impact of oil and chemical spill at sea and integrate them in existing EU guidelines. It also aims at proposing simple, cost-effective analytical tools based on biosensors as monitoring techniques.

Total Budget: €293,091

Contribution: €133,789

Analyses of survey, modelling and remote sensing techniques for Monitoring and Assessment of environmental impacts of submerged oil during oil spill incidents

Project website

DHI – Water & Environment

River Hydraulics Department

(Denmark)

When a larger part of an oil spill sinks below sea surface, the magnitude of the spill, the fate (transport and weathering) of oil and impact on marine life become difficult estimate and ultimately may remain unnoticed or the cause of damage to marine life may fail to be identified.

The objectives of the project are:

To identify needs and constraints of techniques and means for locating and quantifying slicks of patches of submerged oil by reviewing past accidents;
To improve capability to locate and quantify submerged oil by testing and refining remote sensing techniques;
To provide real-time means to predict trajectories of submerged oil by improving and testing oil drift models;
To provide input to guidelines for future mapping of submerged oil.

Total Budget: €118,507

Contribution: €59,253

III. Support and Information Actions (Environmental impact, conferences and events)

No Support and Information Actions were financed under the Call for proposals 2005 of the Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution.

IV. Mobilisation of Experts

No mobilisation of experts was financed under the Call for proposals 2005 of the Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution.

2004 - financed projects

I. Actions in Training and Information (Courses and Workshops, exchange of experts and exercises)

Workshop:

Potentially polluting shipwrecks

BMT - British Maritime Technology

(United Kingdom)

During the Workshop, recent case studies will be presented, identifying, in each case study, the features of the wreck and the features of the approach taken in neutralising the wreck. This information will enable the Workshop to decide if a generic approach is appropriate for dealing with potentially polluting shipwrecks, or if a wreck specific approach is needed.

Total Budget: €72,317

Contribution: €54,237 (75%)

Final Report (pdf 50 MB)

Workshop:

Illicit discharges from ships

CETMAR - Centro Tecnolσgico del Mar

(France)

This action aims at giving a better understanding of what could be done to stop illegal discharges on the European maritime zone. Five main topics will be included in the Workshop: gathering of evidence, technical proof by aerial observation, port state control and evidence, infringements’ sanctions in European countries and in the world, responsibility search for grounding on the shoreline (orphan pollution). A CD-ROM will be delivered with the content of the lectures and the recommendations of the round table.

Total Budget: €100,026

Contribution: €75,000 (75%)

Final Report: FR, EN

Workshop:

Environmental damage

Project Website

Ongoing Project

(Spain)

The Workshop will focus on five main themes:

1) information available on the environmental sensitivity mapping;

2) access to the environmental expertise;

3) damage assessment and claim analysis;

4) environmental monitoring programmes;

5) discussion on the role of Non-Governmental Organisations.

The expected results are:

the achievement of common criteria and/or harmonized approaches and guidelines for the assessment, monitoring and follow up of the environmental damage in the EU on the basis of an exchange of experiences and best practices between Member States;
the final product will be a CD-Rom with the content of the lectures, and a report containing the methodology, tools, criteria, recommendations and guidelines.

Total Budget: €96.963,53

Contribution: €72.722,65 (75%)

Technical implementation report
Workshop documents

Workshop:

Guidelines on minimisation of environmental damage in case of oil pollution

Ongoing Project

IKrW - Institute for Recycling and Environmental protection

(Germany)

The workshop aims at the minimisation of short and long term accidental damages associated with accidental or deliberate releases of oil and oil products to marine systems. The objective is to develop guidelines on minimisation of environmental damages and promote exchange of knowledge and experience in a European perspective.

Total Budget: €98,177.85

Contribution: €73,633.39 (75%)

Workshop:

Contingency planning in the European Union

HELMEPA - Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association

(Greece)

The particular objectives that the workshop will attempt to realise are the following:

to provide a platform for the exchange of views, ideas and practices on contingency planning between experts from Member States;
to assess the existing level of cooperation between Member States and among stakeholders on the national level and suggest ways to improve cooperation through coordination of activities;
to promote a framework of cooperation among stakeholders active both in the field of marine pollution prevention and response (clean up activities in order to minimise marine pollution incidents and mitigate environmental damage);
to highlight common factors that will help establish uniformity in the application of contingency planning;
to identify particularities of States or areas demanding special measures for contingency planning in order to consider the feasibility of establishing European guidelines.

Total Budget: €110,729

Contribution: €75,000 (68%)

Final Technical Report (pdf 892 KB)
Workshop Proceedings Report

II. Actions for Improving Techniques and Methods of response and rehabilitation (Pilot Projects)

Pilot project and Workshop

Development of European Guidelines for potentially polluting wrecks

Ongoing Project

ICRAM -Istituto
Centrale per la Ricerca scientifica e tecnologica applicata al Mare

(Italy)

Disregarding the nature of goods transported at the time of the incident, each wreck itself releases toxic compounds to the rounding water. Namely, bunker oil, chemical compounds such as antifouling paints, coaling gasses and many others pollute the environment.

The objective of the project is to provide European coastal States national administrations with guidelines and criteria to face the environmental threats which might arise from potentially polluting shipwrecks.

The final products will be a database, implemented with a Geographic Information System (GIS), able to provide the relevant information on the matter and to classify the shipwrecks on the basis of the environmental risk they potentially pose. Moreover, the database will contain information regarding the possible technologies applicable to monitor and/or clean up the market target, considering also the financial and legal aspects.

Pilot project:

Response to harmful substances spilled at sea

AMRIE - Alliance of Maritime Regional Interests in Europe

(Belgium)

The general objectives of this pilot project from AMRIE, with TNO and CEDRE as partner, are:

to monitor the flow of chemicals in bulk and in package form in the maritime transport in the EU and to map the principal trade corridors over which these goods are transported by sea and inland waters;
to describe a risk analysis methodology for chemicals spilt from ships in EU waters;
to identify the behaviour and effects of relevant types of chemicals in the marine environment, and analyze their traceability in seawater and in the atmosphere (localisation, detection and classification);
to define strategies and concepts to respond to the effects of chemicals spilled at sea;
to facilitate the exchange of information, raise awareness, and disseminate research results, technologies and best practice techniques at European, national and regional levels;

The results will be submitted to the European Commission for possible publication and/or introduction in the DG Environment Civil Protection website, as follows:

transport of chemical products;
risk assessment indicators;
monitoring tools and procedures;
response techniques to chemicals spills.

Total Budget: €222,735

Contribution: €111,367 (50%)

Project report (zip~5Mb)

Pilot project:

Relative impact of starvation and oil on digestive and kidney functions of sea birds

Ongoing Project

ENVN - Ecole Nationale Vιtιrinaire de Nantes

(France)

The General objectives of this project are:

to improve the criteria of triage of the oiled birds, mainly during oil spills with massive arrival of birds;
to improve the management of these birds notably at the level of protocol of re-feeding and re-hydration which are two key processes of the rehabilitation protocol.

The expected results are also to provide a table to help with the decision of triage and then the treatment, particularly in the case of accidental oil spill with a massive arrival of oiled birds. The pilot project will be implemented with two partners: CEDRE and the Utrecht University.

Total Budget: €135,937

Contribution: €67,969 (50%)

III. Support and Information Actions (Environmental impact, conferences and events)

No Support and Information Actions were financed under the Call for proposals 2004 of the Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution.

IV. Mobilisation of Experts

No mobilisation of experts was financed under the Call for proposals 2004 of the Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution.

2003 - financed projects

There was no call for applications in 2003.

2002 - financed projects

I. Actions in Training and Information (Courses and Workshops, exchange of experts and exercises)

EUMAREX - Exchange of experts in the field of Marine Pollution

(3-year programme)

Ongoing Project

MUMM - Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models

(Belgium)

The EUMAREX programme aims at enhancing the exchange of national marine pollution professionals between Member States. National experts from one Member State will have the possibility to travel to another Member State, in order to gain or share professional experience, appraise different techniques used, study the approaches taken within other emergency services or other relevant organisations with special expertise in marine pollution, and/or present or follow short training modules. The Community contribution to each travel amounts to 75 % of the travel and subsistence costs of the exchange – the remaining 25% being at the expense of the Member State sending the expert abroad.

Total Budget: €703,601

Contribution: €703,601 (100%)

Workshop:

European Local Authorities role in preparedness and response to oil pollution to safeguard seafood production: state and perspectives

Comune di Taranto

(Italy)

Loss of confidence in seafood safety and quality can impact the seafood market long after any actual risk from a spill has subsided, resulting in economic loss. Many European maritime cities where remarkable harbour traffic and fisheries and aquaculture activities co-exist are characterized by these threats, among these, Tarentum in Italy, Brest in France and Cadiz in Spain. In this respect, there is a need to improve the local communities capacity to adequately prevent and prepare the response to accidental or deliberate oil spills taking into account, particularly, the fishery and sea-farming activities.

Total Budget: € 99.141 Contribution: € 74.356 (75%)

Final Report (pdf 60 KB)

Training course:

Response to oil pollution at sea and on the coast

30 June - 05 July 2003

IKrW - Institute for Recycling and Environmental protection

(Germany)

(Germany)

The following objectives were set for the participants of the course:

Overview of national and international regulation/legislation as well as conventions and agreements concerning oils spills;
Further background information concerning oil in the marine environment, including shipping of oil and pollution risk, properties, behaviour and fate of oil in the marine environment and its effects;
Better understanding of management aspects for oil spill response actions including contingency and response planning;
Enhancement of practical knowledge about the state of the art of mechanical, chemical, physical and biological response options for oils spills at sea and on the coast (including tools and techniques, cost and benefit, constraints, safety aspects);
Overview of aspects which need to be considered in addition to direct fighting measures, including overhaul and transport of the technical equipment, sampling and analysis, transport and storage of oily waste, treatment options for oily waste, in particular bioremediation.

Total Budget: €93,594

Contribution: €70,196 (75%)

Final Report (pdf 20 KB)

Workshop:

Satellite Imagery and Illegal Oil Spills in Europe and in the Mediterranean

2 - 4 October 2003

ICRAM -Istituto
Centrale per la Ricerca scientifica e tecnologica applicata al Mare

(France)

The aim of the course was to bring together national responsible (notably from Mediterranean countries) and experts of satellite remote sensing and detection of marine pollution. The workshop intended to:

enable the sharing of operational and juridical experience through real case studies,
prepare a progress report of recent projects concerning new tools for marine pollution detection, including satellite remote sensing,
realize a synthesis of improvement transposable at operational level.

Total Budget: €107,376

Contribution: €75,000 (70%)

Summary Report (pdf 20 KB)

II. Actions for Improving Techniques and Methods of response and rehabilitation (Pilot Projects)

No pilot projects financed under the Call for proposals 2002 of the Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution.

III. Support and Information Actions (Environmental impact, Conferences and events)

R.E.D.C.O.D. - Research on Environmental Damage caused by Chemical Ordnance Dumped at sea

Ongoing Project

(Italy)

Until the 1970s, dumping at sea had been the current practice for disposal of obsolete ordnance. It was considered the best available solution for the elimination of useless ammunition, particularly chemical ammunition since it was thought that the sea would neutralise the toxicity of the chemical agents contained in the weapons. Dumping operations have mainly occurred in areas of the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Sea of Japan, the North Atlantic Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Dumped chemical weapons in the Italian seas are in such a quantity as to be an actual danger for those who fish and explore the seabed. In the Southern Adriatic Sea alone, from 1946 until 1996 more than two hundred fishermen have been hospitalised as a consequence of chemical warfare agents leaked by war surplus caught in their trawl nets

The main objectives of the R.E.D. C.O.D. project are:

to assess the environmental noxiousness of ordnances lying on the seabed of the Southern Adriatic Sea;
to achieve a better knowledge about the quantities and the type of ordnance dumped in the Southern Adriatic Sea;
to achieve a better knowledge about the best available technologies to clean up the sea-bottom.

Total Budget: €267,159

Contribution: €267,159 (100%)

IV. Mobilisation of Experts

No mobilisation of experts was financed under the Call for proposals 2002 of the Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution.

2001 - financed projects

I. Actions in Training and Information (Courses and Workshops, exchange of experts and exercises)

Workshop:

HELP - Human and Environment Life Protection

10 - 13 September 2002

PEPEN -Masters and Mates Union of Greek Merchant Marine

(Greece)

The objectives of the workshop, which took place in Piraeus, Greece were:

To bring together experts from 15 European countries, all of them working in subjects related to marine pollution with final aim the exchange of experience in combating marine pollution and its consequences in human health.
To present issues related with marine accidents and their consequences on human life and health as well as in marine environment.
To raise awareness at European level of the importance of preventing actions, contingency planning and cooperation at European level.

Total Budget: €99,382

Contribution: €74,500 (75%)

Summary Report (pdf 20 KB)

Workshop:

Marine Bioremediation Technologies - BIOAECIPE

1 - 5 July 2002

AECIPE - Asociacion Espaρola de ciudades de la pesca

(Spain)

The course was held in Bremen, from 3 to 7 of November 2002. It was aimed that the participants would obtain the following information and experience:

Detailed information on the present techniques used in the area of bioremediation of oily and other wastes;
In depth knowledge gained from practical examples and case studies;
Detailed understanding of the costs, benefits, duration and constraints of different techniques;
Development of guidelines for use of techniques.

Total Budget: €101,138

Contribution: €74,954 (74%)

Summary Report (pdf 20 KB)

Workshop:

Treatment of pollution waste

1 - 6 Dec 2002

IKrW - Institute for Recycling and Environmental protection

(Germany)

(Germany)

The course was held in Bremen, from 1 to 6 December 2002. The specific aims of the project were:

Overview of marine pollution waste, including types, quantities, toxicities, sampling techniques and case studies for maritime accidents;
Expert information on degradation and behaviour of pollution waste in the marine environment;
Overview of the state of the art of various treatment options for solid and liquid waste and liquid contamination of soil and sediment, including cost and benefit, constraints and duration;
Detailed understanding of legal framework for pollution prevention and treatment waste, soil and water, on European and national levels.

Total Budget: €99,830

Contribution: €74,873 (75%)

Final Report (pdf 200 KB)

Workshop:

Oil spill mitigation measures and harvesting control of marine farming

3-5 Feb 2003

EPE - Environmental Protection Engineering

(Greece)

The particular objectives that the workshop attempted to achieve were as follows:

To promote the exchange of views, knowledge and experience among the participants, in particular on the methods and techniques used to protect marine farming in case of a pollution incident and also to the criteria and approaches for managing production following such events.
To assist in determining similarities and differences on the problems faced to protect mari-culture from oil and other harmful substance spills as well as to control the farming activity following a spill, at national and community level.
To promote new ideas and initiatives for future actions and strategies in community level with regard to the protection of aquaculture from risks posed by oil spills.
To enhance the cooperation on a European level and raise the awareness through the participation in the workshop among the mari-culture operators, government authorities, research institutes and response organisations with respect to the protection of marine farming from oil pollution incidents.

Total Budget: €81,959

Contribution: €61,462 (75%)

Executive summary (pdf 19 KB)

Final Report (pdf 1.2 MB)

Workshop:

Oil spill waste treatment and disposal from a legislative and technical point of view

29 - 31 Oct 2002

EPE - Environmental Protection Engineering

(Greece)

The action was aimed to enhance and supplement the Member States' efforts at national, regional and local levels for the protection of the marine environment, coastlines and human health against risks for accidental or deliberate pollution at sea. The objectives that the workshop attempted to achieve were as follows:

To present in a comprehensive and integrated way the multifaceted issue of oil spill waste treatment and to promote the exchange of views and experience among the delegates.
To investigate and review the state of knowledge and the scientific and technological progress made so far among the Member States of the European Union over the efficiency and feasibility of treatment and disposal methods that could apply to waste generated by oil pollution incidents.
To review the applicable legislation and to identify any disparities or obstacles to its effective implementation with the aim to support Member States efforts to comply with.

Total Budget: €75,464

Contribution: €56,598 (75%)

Final Report (pdf 200 KB)

Training course:

Bioremediation of waste from marine pollution

1 - 6 Dec 2002

IKrW - Institute for Recycling and Environmental protection

(Germany)

(Germany)

The course was held in Bremen, from 3 to 7 November 2002. The specific aims of the project were:

to foster cooperation between Member States in the field of combating accidental marine pollution and treatment of resulting wastes
to enhance information exchange between professionals inside the European Union and to evaluate experiences gained in this context
to further develop the practical and professional knowledge of personnel from local, regional, and government authorities

Total Budget: €101,138

Contribution: €74,954 (74%)

Final Report in 5 parts (pdf, 2.1 MB): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

II. Actions for Improving Techniques and Methods of response and rehabilitation (Pilot Projects)

DENIM -

DEtection de Nappes IMmergιes

(Detection of sunken oil slicks)

CEDRE (France)

ICRAM (Italy)

IFREMER (France)

During the last twenty years there have been several spills involving heavy fuel oil in the world including in North-America and Europe. In many of these accidents, part of the heavy fuel has sunk and produced a threat to the environment that has been difficult to evaluate because of the lack of means of detection and monitoring. It is of paramount importance to detect and map these oil patches so as to plan an adequate response such as a recovery operation.

Total Budget: €297,618

Contribution: €148,808 (50%)

Executive Summary DENIM (pdf 14 KB) Summary Report (pdf 3.2 MB)

Specialised vessel

Castalia (Italy)

Interprogetti (Italy)

CONISMA (Italy)

Though efforts have being made to co-ordinate the interaction in the Mediterranean sea, the lack of a study or project to improve common technical devices to combat oil spill was generally lamented. The principal aim of the proposal was to produce a basic project in standard format for an antipollution boat. The vessel is suitable to operate in the Mediterranean sea though should also be usefully applied in those countries which have interests to protect the sea from oil spill and other forms of pollution.

Total Budget: €175,830

Contribution: €87,915 (50%)

Summary Report (pdf 150 KB)

Net environmental economic benefit analysis

TNO

(Netherlands)

This report was prepared on behalf of the European Commission who asked TNO-MEP to perform a study with reference to the call for proposals 2001 in the field of Community cooperation against accidental or deliberate marine pollution to promote a “Net Environmental – Economic Benefit Analysis of the operational response options.

This document is the product of two workshops. The first held on 27 - 28 June 2002 and the second on 28 - 29 of November at Schiphol, Amsterdam.

Total Budget: €235,000

Contribution: €115,000 (49%)

Operational guidelines (pdf 4 MB)

Feasible response options (xls 53 KB)

Net Environmental Benefit Analysis Joint Exercise – NEBAJEX

(Pilot project combined with an exercise)

MUMM - Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models

(Belgium)

World Maritime University

(France)

SINTEF

(Norway)

The main goal of the two-year pilot project was to organise an oil pollution exercise at sea in order to carry out an effective monitoring in real time, and to develop a common monitoring approach, in support of a Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) for oil pollution response at sea. Total Budget: € 377,960

Contribution: € 180,682 (48%)

Final report (pdf 951 KB)

III. Support and Information Actions (Environmental impact, Conferences and events)

Environmental Assessment survey following the accident of the Baltic Carrier

June 2001 – June 2002

Storstrom County, Aquatic Environmental Division

(Denmark)

On 29 March 2001, the oil tanker “Baltic Carrier” collided with the bulk carrier “Tern” in the western Baltic Sea, near the naval border between Germany and Denmark. The collision between the two vessels was caused by a mechanical defect in the steering mechanism of the “Baltic Carrier”. Because of the collision 2400 tons of heavy fuel oil leaked from the cargo tanks into the open sea. The spilled oil stranded along the shorelines of the sound Grψnsund, on the islands of Farψ, Bogψ, Mψn and the North-eastern Falster. So far, this oil pollution is the worst one in Danish coastal waters. The aim of this monitoring programme has been to investigate and assess the environmental consequences of the oil spill.

Total Budget: €196,645

Contribution: €97,315 (49%)

Task Force report (pdf 2.7 MB)

Summary report (pdf 14 KB)

Final Report (zip 10 MB)

IV. Mobilisation of Experts

Task Force "Galapagos" following the accident of the tanker "Jessica"

January 2001

Presented by the Commission

Covers expenditure generated by mobilisation of expertise.

Total Budget: €30,000

Final report (pdf 855 KB)

Task Force "Baltic Carrier" following the accident of the tanker "Baltic Carrier"

April 2001

Presented by the Commission

Covers expenditure generated by mobilisation of expertise.

Total Budget: €30,000

Final report (pdf 2.7 MB)

2000 - financed projects

I. Actions in Training and Information (Courses and Workshops, exchange of experts and exercises)

General training course:

Response to oil pollution at sea and on the coast

2-6 October 2001

(Sweden)

The objective of the course was to bring together experts in maritime environment protection from the different EU countries. The course was mainly dedicated to train beginners or personnel with only a little experience in this subject. The course focused on:

Sources and effects of marine pollutants
Contingency planning and crisis management
Combating of oil at sea and treatment of recovered wastes
Overview about international regulations with regard to oil pollution and compensation of damage.

Total Budget: €85,204

Contribution: € 63,903 (75%)

Summary Report (pdf 20 KB)

Specialised training course:

Airborne pollution monitoring

3-7 December 2001

BMS International

(Denmark) (e-mail)

Most EU coastal member states have established routine airborne marine pollution surveillance. These programs are based on a dedicated aircraft with a suite of sensors which can detect, identify and quantify oil pollution of the sea whether discharged deliberately or by accident. The sensors are also used to identify vessels which illegally discharge oil into the sea. While the sensor technology used for airborne marine pollution surveillance has been known since the nineteen-seventies and eighties, it has undergone significant improvements till today. In addition, new data management systems have appeared on the market and better interpretation techniques have been developed. The objectives of the course were to:

present the latest technology in airborne pollution surveillance
provide up-to-date information about aircraft, sensors and operational aspects
inform the participants about other applications of the sensors.

Total Budget: €99,680

Contribution: €74,010 (75%)

Summary Report (pdf 10 KB)

Defining the content of a training course on harmful substances

Part A - Workshop

21-23 January 2002

Part B -Specialised pilot training course

2-6 April 2002

ENSACO

(Netherlands)

The project provided a forum on which twenty-six experts were able to further develop their network and exchange ideas in order to plan, develop and define the content of a European-based training program for the response to pollution caused by harmful noxious substances (HNS). The course is based on the most up-to-date response techniques and best practices available. Three target groups were identified and corresponding programs defined and developed into a block of syllabus. Twenty-six lectures in the form of PowerPoint presentations were developed, while case studies and reference material were reviewed and evaluated.

Total Budget: €99,503

Contribution: €74,628 (75%)

Summary Report (pdf 100 KB)

Workshop:

Environmental Restoration and Ecological Monitoring

30 January- 2 February 2002

EPE - Environmental Protection Engineering

(France)

The workshop took place in Brest, France, from 30 January to 2 February 2002. Its aim was to gather together European experts in the field of response to oil spills with an experience in or an interest in environmental restoration and ecological monitoring, in order to share experience from past accidents and discuss recent developments. The objective was also to collate and transmit to the EC the proposals these experts made in order to improve European cooperation in matters of information, research and exchange of experience.

Total Budget: €100,040

Contribution: €75,000 (75%)

Summary Report (pdf 144 KB)

Workshop:

Analysis of recent major accidents

5-7 February 2002

ENSACO

(Netherlands)

The Community Workshop “Analysis of Recent Major Accidents”, funded by the EU Commission Directorate-General Environment, provided a forum on which to discuss and analyze the past 15 years of maritime accidents involving large or difficult oil spills. Representatives from seven EU Member States attended this workshop and contributed their expertise in the field of pollution response.

Total Budget: €95,051

Contribution: €71,288 (75%)

Summary Report (pdf 100 KB)

General Training course:

Contingency planning and oil response

11-14 February 2002

(Greece)

The four-day training course took place in Athens, Greece, in February 2001. Two scheduled events, the spill response demonstration and the visit to Petrola Hellas Oil Refinery took place in the Port of Piraeus and in Elefsis Gulf respectively. The general objectives of the course were the following:

to increase the awareness of the participants on the field of the accidental and deliberate marine pollution by oil, and particularly to the demanding capabilities needed for responding timely and effectively to emergency situations,
to encourage and cultivate a spirit of cooperation between the participants, and
to strengthen national planning and preparedness for responding to oil pollution incidents which are likely to threaten the marine and coastal environment, human health and to damage economic and cultural values.

Total Budget: € 71,427

Contribution: € 53,570 (75%)

Final Report (pdf 600 KB)

General Training course

Response to accidental oil pollution at sea and on the coast

14-18 May 2002

(France)

This training course was meant for personnel recently appointed in the field of marine pollution or who will have to participate in this kind of activities without having any previous experience. It was indeed a first approach to the subject. Its main objective was to make the delegates familiar with several aspects of response at sea and on the shoreline, allowing them to gain basic knowledge through classroom sessions, lectures, demonstrations and practical exercises. Besides, it was an opportunity to help create professional links between the delegates and the lecturers with a view to share experience on the matter.

Total Budget: €102,880

Contribution: €75,000 (72.9%)

Summary Report (pdf 20 KB)

Training course

International liability and compensation regime

21-25 May 2002