HELCOM objectives in shipping field Tadas Navickas Professional Secretary HELCOM

Contents Introduction Examples of HELCOM objectives, indicators and actions accidental pollution pollution by ship generated waste Further steps

Shipping in numbers 2005 figures : 1800 AIS equipped vessels in the Baltic at any moment 54 th. AIS equipped vessels passed the Skaw 40 th. passed Kiel Canal 56 th. vessels passed Gotland 40 th. entered/left the Gulf of Finland one of the most intensely trafficked shipping areas in the world

Shipping in numbers

Pressures on the environment Accidental pollution Pollution by ship-generated waste Air pollution Transportation of non-indigenous organisms Effects of offshore activities

HELCOM objectives in maritime field Maritime activities carried out in an environmentally friendly way Indicators, targets, management objectives Actions No new introductions of non-indigenous species Negligible illegal pollution No accidents with significant environmental impact Adequate preparedness to react to shipping accidents Minimum air pollution from ships Offshore activities are carried out in “zero discharge” regime

Accidents in the Baltic Pollution of: the seawater and seabed (including possible effects to spawning grounds etc.); atmosphere (e.g. in the case of fire) shores (recreational areas and wildlife habitats can be seriously affected) killing of the sea birds and mammals

Proposed objective Accidental pollution No accidents with significant environmental impact Environmental significance of accidents: assessed on case by case basis take into account local situation and damage HELCOM Recommendation 12/9 “Follow-up studies in connection with major oil spills” additional discussion on the assessment of the significance could be needed

Proposed indicators Accidental pollution Measurable pressure (environmental impacts) of accidental pollution Amount of contaminated beaches (accidental pollution) Number of oily birds (accidental pollution) Number of accidents with significant environmental impact Number of shipping accidents Number of shipping accidents with pollution Number of successful emergency/response operations Measuring progress of HELCOM actions: Safety of navigation measures Emergency assistance Responding to accidental pollution

Examples of further steps Safety of navigation Full use of the AIS opportunities: automatic warnings, reminders etc to authorities analysis of accidents/traffic in risk areas further routing measures based on AIS info Systematic and updated guidance and information to vessels e.g. Baltic Transit Guide AIS based warning systems Safe passage through the Danish straits e.g. enhanced use of the pilots Improved PSC (both ships and crew)

Proposed objectives Emergency and response preparedness Adequate emergency capacity available in all sub-regions of the Baltic Response capacities are sufficient to minimise the negative environmental impacts of small, medium and large oil spills - relevant indicators under development Seagoing response vessels in the HELCOM area

Examples of further steps Emergency and response preparedness Three tear approach in emergency and response planning: sub regional assessment of the risks identification of missing resources coordinated steps to fill the gaps Technical response issues: responding at night/in bad visibility responding in bad weather conditions responding to spills of heavy oils

Illegal discharges Size of illegal spills during 2000-2004: >1 m3 – 1643 1-10 m3- 121 10-100 m3 – 25 >100 m3 - 2

Proposed objective Illegal discharges Negligible illegal pollution - number of instances and the amount of pollutants should continue on the downward trend and be close to zero in mid-term

Proposed indicators Illegal discharges number of illegal (both observed and estimated) discharges abundance of marine litter amounts of wastes delivered to ports number of polluters identified/convicted Measurable pressure (environmental impacts) of ship generated waste Effectiveness of actions of HELCOM countries

Examples of further steps Illegal pollution Unified implementation of the Baltic Strategy: mandatory delivery “no special fee” Improved enforcement: combination of AIS and oil drift data satellite surveillance (cooperation with EMSA) improved international cooperation in investigation and collection of evidence

Further steps Developing the Baltic Action Plan Finalisation of the full set of objectives and indicators Adjusting reporting Creation of ”progress display” system: easily understandable accessible for wide public Developing actions to achieve agreed targets and objectives Involvement of stakeholders – crucial

Thank you For more information please contact: Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) Katajanokanlaituri 6 B FI-00160 Helsinki Finland www.helcom.fi