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Working Programme for the Response Group (HELCOM RESPONSE) 2011-2013

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
  • Build and follow up new knowledge on dispersants’ use and applicability 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)

  1. Finalize the assessment 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
  2. Based upon the risk assessment 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
  3. Conclude/implement sub-regional agreements
  4. Co-operate by conducting trainings and organizing exchange programmes to ensure swift and adequate response capacity to shoreline pollution and to develop best practices
  5. Integrate shoreline response into national contingency plans:  

    1) develop new HELCOM Recommendation

    2) amend Response Manual/develop new Volume

    3) amend the Helsinki Convention to ensure that:

    -  adequate equipment and capacities for shoreline response are in place

    -  shoreline response is integrated with overall contingency planning as required by the HELCOM BSAP

    -  a HELCOM country can ask for assistance from another Baltic Sea country when dealing with pollution at the shore
  6. Based on the BRISK assessment to review counter-measures for shoreline response in order to ensure that there is adequate response capacity to enable effective shoreline response, prepare concrete plans/programmes for implementing them by 2013
  7. Integrate oiled wildlife response (OWR) into national contingency plans
  8. Exchange of information on development of national OWR plans, authority-NGO cooperation, national trainings and exercises
  9. Baltic OW Responders exchange meetings on protocols and facilities
  10. Baltic OW Authority exchange meetings on preparedness and response
  11. Seminar on Post Release Survival and Euthanasia of oiled birds

3.    Enhance co-operation with regard to places of refuge according to HELCOM Recommendation 31E/5

  • Make the Mutual Plan for Places of Refuge operational and implemented within/through sub-regional agreements
  • Ratify the relevant compensation and liability conventions according to HELCOM 31E/5
  • Reconsider the issue of sharing of the operation costs by authorities in a place of refuge situation not met by the international compensation regime of cost sharing

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
  • Maintain Seatrack Web/AIS/SAT for improved identification of possible polluters
  • Co-operate/assist and exchange experience in investigations
  • Co-operate with the Network of the Prosecutors on Environmental Crime (ENPRO)
  • Contribute to EMSA WG on Guidelines for legal actions on polluters

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 HELCOM map and data service
  • 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 and submerged hazardous objects
  • Lessons learned from operations/accidents