Press release 2011-03-04 at 12:00
The total number of oil spills observed in the Finnish sea areas in 2010 was 65 – i.e., more or less the same as in 2009. The majority of the spills in 2010 were small and occurred in the archipelago or harbour areas.
The oil spills detected in harbour areas were not deliberate and resulted from accidents or negligence. In addition to those detected during the surveillance flights, oil spills were reported by other authorities and by citizens.
Observations also in Estonian and Swedish sea areas
During the Finnish surveillance flights made in 2010, 20 oil spills were observed in Finnish sea areas and 23 in the Estonian and Swedish exclusive economic zones. The number spills of substances other than oil was six.
Oil spills detected in years 1996-2010
|
Oil spills detected by Finnish aircraft in 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As in previous years, the volume of the individual spills observed in Finnish sea areas was low. Only one of the oil spills observed by surveillance flights was of more than 100 litres.
The average volume of oil spills detected during the Finnish surveillance flights was 116 litres, as compared with 608 in 2005. A decrease in the average volume of oil spills has been observed throughout the Baltic Sea area.
Advances in surveillance technology
The Finnish Environment Institute and the Finnish Border Guard co-operate to detect oil and other chemical spills in the sea areas. This work is carried out mainly by the Finnish Border Guard’s two Dornier surveillance aeroplanes, which the Finnish Environment Institute equipped with new oil spill surveillance equipment in 2009. The new equipment has met expectations in terms of their surveillance performance and usability. The development will continue in 2011 and 2012 when the other surveillance equipment that support the environmental surveillance of the surveillance planes will be replaced.
In addition to surveillance flights, the satellite image service of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) contributes significantly to the control of marine oil spills. In 2010, Finnish authorities received 274 satellite images through the EMSA. The aim is to always confirm all possible oil spills detected by satellites through Finnish, Estonian, or Swedish surveillance flights.
More effective penalties, with a wider scope of application
Release of oil into the sea is prohibited by law, and an oil pollution fee is handed down for violation of this prohibition. In 2010, the Finnish Border Guard commenced investigation of six cases of oil spills. In three of them, an oil pollution fee was issued, and the investigation of one of the cases still continues. The deliberateness of the act does not affect the issuance of a penalty.
The new Act on the Protection of the Marine Environment (1672/2009), which was issued in conjunction with the reform of the legislation on pollution from ships, entered into force at the beginning of 2010. Following the reform, the Finnish Border Guard may submit a further complaint if it is dissatisfied with the decisions issued by the Maritime Court. or the court of appeals in cases of oil pollution fees. The scope of the Finnish regulations concerning administrative oil pollution fee was extended to cover the territory of Åland also. The Finnish Border Guard is now responsible for tasks related to the issuance of oil pollution fee in the territory of Åland as well.
International co-operation in a key role
International co-operation is of great importance in pollution surveillance – from the planning of surveillance flight schedules to the investigation of oil spills. Also, Finland, Estonia, and Sweden conduct surveillance flights in each other’s exclusive economic zones. In 2010, Finland organised one international pollution surveillance operation and participated in one operation organised by Estonia.
More Information
Oil spill control:
Heli Haapasaari, Inspector, Finnish Environment Institute
tel. +358 40 179 3050
e-mail address format firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi
Administrative oil pollution fees:
Commander Tom Lundell, maritime safety expert, Finnish Border Guard tel. +358 40 521 4685
Aira Saloniemi, Chief Editor for Web Services,
Finnish Environment Institute
tel. +358 400 1488 75
e-mail address format firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi