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‘Action Plan’ for European Pollution
01 Feb 2007
Salvors are seeking a meeting with EU Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg to present their case for the adoption of new measures to reduce the risk of another spill disaster in European waters. In response to the EU’s Green Paper on Future Maritime Policy, the International Salvage Union (ISU) is proposing an ‘Action Plan for Spill Risk Reduction in EU Waters’, which centres on reinforcing salvage as the first line of defence against ship source pollution.
The ISU says that data collected by ITOPF shows that more than half of the world’s worst oil spills over the past four decades have occurred in European waters. The consequent release of 1m tons of oil devastated coastal communities in France, Spain, the UK and other member states. The scale of the damage would have been much worse but for the action of ISU salvors, who have recovered some 10m tons of oil from tanker casualties throughout the world over the past decade.
The ISU Action Plan would provide the EU with an effective environmental shield to better protect European coastal waters from ship source pollution. ISU President Hans van Rooij said, ‘We look forward to a constructive dialogue with the Commissioner, who has already indicated that he appreciates the significance of a highly effective salvage service for Europe.’
The ISU Action Plan focuses on new measures to establish more effective marine emergency response in Europe. Specific proposals include:
Commercial arrangements between the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and salvors, to run in parallel with steps already taken by EMSA to reinforce spill clean-up capability in the EU.
Establishment of a European Fund for Environmental Awards, to reward salvors who, as a consequence of rendering salvage assistance to shipping casualties, prevent or minimise pollution in EU Coastal Zones.
The use of this fund to compensate and reward coastal communities providing places of refuge for ship casualties. This would recognise that they have a greater exposure to pollution damage.
The introduction of EU-wide responder immunity for salvors. The IMO’s Bunker Spills Convention excludes responder immunity, despite the fact that salvors have to confront the threat of environmental damage from bunkers in almost every salvage case.
In addition, the ISU Action Plan puts forward proposals to enhance the performance of salvage and pollution prevention in EU waters. These proposals include:
EU adoption of Guidelines on Marine Casualty Management. These best practice guidelines, first proposed by the ISU, are to be drafted by the ISU together with the Maritime Safety Umbrella Operation (MSUO). It is hoped that EMSA will participate in this work.
Reduced reliance on the chance availability of a ‘tug of opportunity’ in emergency situations. New measures should ensure that standby salvage tugs provide a guaranteed level of protection in all EU Costal Zones.
MJ Information No: 22703
