1. HELCOM objectives in shipping field
Tadas Navickas
Professional Secretary
HELCOM

2. Contents Introduction
Examples of HELCOM objectives, indicators and actions
accidental pollution
pollution by ship generated waste
Further steps

3. Shipping in numbers 2005 figures :
1800 AIS equipped vessels in the Baltic at any moment
54 th. AIS equipped vessels passed the Skaw
40 th. passed Kiel Canal
56 th. vessels passed Gotland
40 th. entered/left the Gulf of Finland
one of the most intensely trafficked shipping areas in the world

4. Shipping in numbers

5. Pressures on the environment
Accidental pollution
Pollution by ship-generated waste
Air pollution
Transportation of non-indigenous organisms
Effects of offshore activities

6. HELCOM objectives in maritime field
Maritime activities carried out in an environmentally friendly way
Indicators, targets, management objectives
Actions
No new introductions of non-indigenous species
Negligible illegal pollution
No accidents with significant environmental impact
Adequate preparedness to react to shipping accidents
Minimum air pollution from ships
Offshore activities are carried out in “zero discharge” regime

7. Accidents in the Baltic
Pollution of:
the seawater and seabed (including possible effects to spawning grounds etc.);
atmosphere (e.g. in the case of fire)
shores (recreational areas and wildlife habitats can be seriously affected)
killing of the sea birds and mammals

8. Proposed objective Accidental pollution
No accidents with significant environmental impact
Environmental significance of accidents:
assessed on case by case basis
take into account local situation and damage
HELCOM Recommendation 12/9 “Follow-up studies in connection with major oil spills”
additional discussion on the assessment of the significance could be needed

9. Proposed indicators Accidental pollution
Measurable pressure (environmental impacts) of accidental pollution
Amount of contaminated beaches (accidental pollution)
Number of oily birds (accidental pollution)
Number of accidents with significant environmental impact
Number of shipping accidents
Number of shipping accidents with pollution
Number of successful emergency/response operations
Measuring progress of HELCOM actions:
Safety of navigation measures
Emergency assistance
Responding to accidental pollution

10. Examples of further steps Safety of navigation
Full use of the AIS opportunities:
automatic warnings, reminders etc to authorities
analysis of accidents/traffic in risk areas
further routing measures based on AIS info
Systematic and updated guidance and information to vessels e.g.
Baltic Transit Guide
AIS based warning systems
Safe passage through the Danish straits e.g. enhanced use of the pilots
Improved PSC (both ships and crew)

11. Proposed objectives Emergency and response preparedness
Adequate emergency capacity available in all sub-regions of the Baltic
Response capacities are sufficient to minimise the negative environmental impacts of small, medium and large oil spills
- relevant indicators under development
Seagoing response vessels in the HELCOM area

12. Examples of further steps Emergency and response preparedness
Three tear approach in emergency and response planning:
sub regional assessment of the risks
identification of missing resources
coordinated steps to fill the gaps
Technical response issues:
responding at night/in bad visibility
responding in bad weather conditions
responding to spills of heavy oils

13. Illegal discharges Size of illegal spills during 2000-2004:
>1 m3 – 1643
1-10 m
m3 – 25
>100 m3 - 2

14. Proposed objective Illegal discharges
Negligible illegal pollution - number of instances and the amount of pollutants should continue on the downward trend and be close to zero in mid-term

15. Proposed indicators Illegal discharges
number of illegal (both observed and estimated) discharges
abundance of marine litter
amounts of wastes delivered to ports
number of polluters identified/convicted
Measurable pressure (environmental impacts) of ship generated waste
Effectiveness of actions of HELCOM countries

16. Examples of further steps Illegal pollution
Unified implementation of the Baltic Strategy:
mandatory delivery
“no special fee”
Improved enforcement:
combination of AIS and oil drift data
satellite surveillance (cooperation with EMSA)
improved international cooperation in investigation and collection of evidence

17. Further steps Developing the Baltic Action Plan
Finalisation of the full set of objectives and indicators
Adjusting reporting
Creation of ”progress display” system:
easily understandable
accessible for wide public
Developing actions to achieve agreed targets and objectives
Involvement of stakeholders – crucial

18. Thank you For more information please contact: Helsinki Commission
(HELCOM)
Katajanokanlaituri 6 B
FI Helsinki
Finland