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Monitoring Illicit Discharges from Vessel (MIDIV) |
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The accident of the Prestige Tanker off the north-west coast of Spain in 2002, provided a new evidence of the dramatic ecological impact of accidental pollution. During this kind of emergency the coordination of activities aimed at identifying the pollution, forecasting the pollution movement and planning of remediation actions is a key element. Besides accidental pollution caused by ships in distress, different types of routine ship operations lead to deliberate discharges of oil in the sea. Illicit discharges are the greatest source of marine pollution from ships, and the one which poses an long-term threat to the marine and coastal environment. Reliable monitoring methodologies and continuously updated comprehensive information are key elements to create effective contingency planning. This requires a firm technical foundation for Civil Protection and the mitigation of social and economical impacts from man- made risks. The JRC has been asked by DG ENV to technically support them in this area. Specifically the JRC will secure is role as a neutral, European Commission laboratory in order to complement the role of DG ENV, and to stimulate action by the Member States. The action will focus on fostering the operational use of satellite observations both in support to Member States activities against illicit oil pollution and for emergency management in case of accidental pollution. Summary of the project:In case of accidental spilling the action will complete the set-up of special infrastructure aiming at supporting in a rapid manner the management of emergency in terms of satellite images interpretation. Such a primary information will be then linked, through appropriate models, to contextual information and meteorological and oceanographic data in order to forecast oil movement. In addition will be approached the topic of providing optimised and standardised procedure for the management of emergency.
Concerning the aspect of illicit discharges this action will continue to provide updated information on the extent of non- conformity with the international environmental law and Member States Regulations concerning illicit vessel discharges. The work will assist the Commission Services, the Regional Marine Conventions and the Member States in assessing the effectiveness of the existing policies, as well as for optimising plans for focused patrol and intervention strategies. The most advanced and effective remote sensing techniques will be employed in order to produce on a routine basis maps of illicit discharges.
In addition it will be defined requirement for the execution of a pilot project aiming at demonstrating the capabilities of an integrated approach based on the synergetic use of remote sensing techniques and airborne means currently employed for patrolling activities for identifying illicit discharges and culprit vessel.
Specific Objectives:
Emergency management.
Operation of special infrastructures, including tools for fast data exchange with Satellite Centres in order to support in a rapid manner the emergency management in case of accidental pollution.
Mapping Illicit discharges
To provide reliable spatial information through time concerning oil discharges in European seas to support the development of a European monitoring system.
Collection of contextual information
To collect and organise in a database relevant contextual information including: inventories and maps of port facilities, the activities of Member States and Regional Agreements, the operational tools and methodologies currently employed, and the legal aspects connected to the problem at international and national level.
Pilot project – Early warning
To establish contacts with concerned partners in order to launch and coordinate, in collaboration with DG-ENV, a pilot project aimed to verify the feasibility and the capabilities of an early-warning system and its applicability all over the European Seas.
Web based services
To make publicly available a sub-set of the information created under the different workpackages of the project through a dedicated web site.
Overall this work will be undertaken in close partnership with national authorities and European research organisations. As a result an over-arching objective for the action will be to establish, within the context of the European Research Area, a network that integrates effort in the field.
Planned Deliverables:
Maps of regional and local incidents of illicit discharges in European seas for the year 2003.
Data base of detected oil spill signatures and reliable statistical assessments integrated into a GIS with indicators of environmental sensitivity and other relevant contextual information.
Assessment at the regional level of the extent of non-conformity with regulations.
Assessments on specific needs for abating pollution in areas facing higher pressure.
Technical requirements for a pilot project on a system for early-warning.
Web site implementation and maintenance.
Anticipated milestones & schedule:The results of the mapping of illicit discharges in European seas will be presented on a regular basis to the European Marine Pollution Management Committee meetings.
A feasibility plan for a field test (pilot project) will be developed by June 2004 for presentation and acceptance to DG ENV.
A series of meetings with all the concerned partners for the pilot project (National Authorities, Space agencies and Image Providers, National Research Centres) will be held within 2004 in order to formalise the collaboration and define an operational plan for the Pilot Project.
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Project description