Working Programme for the Response Group (HELCOM RESPONSE) 2008-2010
1. Maintain and further develop the standing operational network for trans-national co-operation in case of incidents
- Keep HELCOM Response Manual up to date:
- Carry out operational and other kinds of exercises
- Develop and agree on a decision support system for use of dispersants / a common methodology for conducting NEBA in the Baltic Sea
2. Implement a three-tier approach to ensure adequate response to incidents in the Baltic Sea Area, with a special focus on the second tier (sub-regional level)
- Develop and agree upon common methodology for the assessment of risk and sufficiency of emergency and response capacity
- Finalize the assessments of the risks of oil and chemical pollution and finalize the quantification of the emergency and response resources at the sub-regional level needed to meet these risks
- Based upon the risk assessments to identify the gaps in emergency and response resources at the sub-regional level and to prepare concrete plans/programmes for fulfilling them by 2013/2016
- Evaluate the state-of-the-art in the countries with regard to shoreline response, incl. organizational aspects
- Conclude sub-regional agreements
- Identify the need for and finalize the quantification of counter-measures for shoreline response, prepare concrete plans/programmes for implementing them by 2013
- Evaluate situation with regard to wildlife response in the countries; Develop new Chapter in HELCOM Response Manual on wildlife response
- Integrate wildlife response into national contingency plans
3. Enhance co-operation with regard to places of refuge
- Develop and implement mutual plans for places of refuge
- Investigate issues of liability and compensation related to the mutual plan on places of refuge
4. Detection, investigation and prosecution of anti-pollution regulations
- Co-ordinate aerial surveillance flights and harmonize aerial surveillance with satellite surveillance
- Identify operational needs for satellite surveillance in each sub-region of the Baltic
- Carry out CEPCO and other flights
- Harmonize aerial surveillance reporting systems with Bonn Agreement area
- Further develop Seatrack Web/AIS, e.g. to integrate satellite information for improved identification of possible polluters - accomplished
- Co-operate/assist and exchange experience in investigations
- Co-operate with the network of prosecutors general in the Baltic Region
5. Ensure information exchange about and investigate the need for additional response measures for offshore activities
- Report on ongoing/planned offshore activities (exploration/exploitation)
6. Collect information/exchange experience/promote development and use of new technology and best practices
- Collect information on shipping accidents in the Baltic and their impact on marine environment
- Report on response operations
- Collect information on observed deliberate, illegal oil discharges and related statistics
- Update MARIS system
- Exchange information with other regional agreements
- Enhance use of technology to respond to accidents at night, in bad visibility, in bad weather, oil on ice, accidents involving heavy oil, chemical incidents
- Collect information on dumped chemical munitions