Oil is a serious threat to Baltic ecosystems and wildlife. Oil spills contaminate the water by creating an oily layer on the surface or by mixing and disolving in the water. Every year many sea birds are killed by oil which is routinely discharged into the Baltic Sea - even when there are no major accidental spills. Most of the oil comes from ships deliberately breaking international laws by discharging oily wastes and contaminated water from their machinery spaces and cargo holds.
In addition to oil spills at sea, the vast majority (approximately 90 %) of oil input into the Baltic Sea comes from land-based sources via rivers or directly to the sea through run-off as well as discharges from municipal waste water treatment plants and industries.
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In 2000, 80 million tonnes of oil were transported in the Baltic. By 2015 the total amount of oil transported in the Baltic will amount to more than 130 million tonnes a year. Surveillance aircraft detect about 400 illegal oil discharges a year in the Baltic Sea. Single-bottomed tankers are much more likely to spill oil in an accident than modern double-bottomed ships. Many of the oil tankers operating in the Baltic sea are still only single-bottomed
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The dangers of oil
Oil spills contaminate the surface water, smothering marine plants and animals. Many chemicals in oil spills are toxic, and can have serious cumulative effects as they build up in ecosystems. Spills can also have severe repercussions for tourism and fisheries, while the necessary clean-up operations may themselves unavoidably harm marine life and coastal habitats.
Further information is available from the following links:
Indicator Fact Sheet on illegal oil discharges in 2003
Ship accidents causing oil pollution (1989-1999)
Compilation of ship accidents in the Baltic Sea area (2000-2001)
Location of oil spillages observed by aerial surveillance 2002
Location of oil spillages observed by aerial surveillance in the Baltic and North Sea Areas 2002
Location of oil spillages observed by aerial surveillance in the Baltic and North Sea Areas 2001
Location of oil spillages observed by aerial surveillance 2001
Location of oil spillages observed by aerial surveillance in the Baltic and North Sea Areas 2000
Location of oil spillages observed by aerial surveillance 2000
Location of oil spillages observed by aerial surveillance 1999
Location of oil spillages observed by aerial surveillance 1998
View MARIS to visualize the risks of maritime transportation in the Baltic Sea and the capacity to handle these risks.
Take a closer look at illegal oil discharges in 2000 on our interactive map!
Global Marine Oil Pollution Information Gateway of the GPA Clearing-House Mechanism
How illegal oil discharges can be stopped
1.Use waste disposal facilities
To ensure that ships can easily dispose of oily wastes in port, there are over 210 port reception facilities around the Baltic Sea.
2.Watch out for aerial surveillance
As well as regularly surveying their own regions, the Baltic Sea States co-operate closely on joint aerial surveillance. This involves the surveillance of a selected shipping route for at least 24 hours by aircraft from various countries. A joint command post co-ordinates surveillance in co-operation with patrol vessels on standby to deal with offenders caught "black"-handed. Joint surveys also help to assess the amounts of oil being discharged into the Baltic Sea from ships. Practical experience with international co-operation is also valuable considering the need to be prepared to deal with major oil pollution accidents.
3.Enforce law on illegal discharges
Three legal authorities may be involved: the flag state, the coastal state and the port state. The flag state is primarily responsible for ensuring compliance by ships flying its flag, but the nearest coastal state and any port states visited by the ships involved must also enforce international laws. When anti-pollution regulations are broken at sea the Baltic Sea States must share all the necessary evidence, including information from inspections of ships, ships records, and oil samples.
HELCOMs project "The Implementation of EUROCRUDE in the Baltic" has been set up to help gather evidence related to illegal oil discharges.
Helsinki Commission
