A Baltic Sea Model of the Response to Chemicals

Abstract

In the Baltic Sea the protection of the marine environment is implemented on the basis of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention, ratified by all the Baltic Sea States by 1980).

For the purposes of this convention the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission was established.

Three permanent committees and ad hoc subsidiary bodies advise the Commission on scientific aspects, on pollution damage, on the prevention of pollution from ships and on reasonable and adequate countermeasures against oil pollution and spillages of other harmful substances. A special sub-working group is now dealing with the elaboration of guide lines to combat chemicals (CC Chem).

These guidelines will be finalized in 1989 as a Baltic Sea Area Supplement to the IMO Manual on Chemical Pollution. It will contain

• an inventory of chemicals carried on the Baltic

• transport patterns for chemicals carried by tankers and gas carriers

• a risk analysis for the transport of chemicals

• a classification system of chemicals transported

• data sheets with all relevant chemical and physical properties and all criteria relevant to response measures containing also response and combatting measures.

It is to facilitate and speed up - as part of the Baltic Sea Combatting Manual - decisions on adequate countermeasures to be taken by operational control authorities (O C A) and on-scene-coordinators (OSC).