14 April 2021, the MOIG Director participated; via electronic conferencing platform; to West MOPoCo closing event organized by the Secretariat General for the sea of France (SGMer) with the participation of the project beneficiaries and stakeholders.
The main objectives of this event were to present the latest results of the project in preparedness to chemical pollution events and to discuss, with the project partners, about their experience implementing of this cooperation project funded under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM 2021) and its results in beneficiary countries.
The project was coordinated by the SGMer and co-funded by DG ECHO (EU). It was implemented through an inter-regional effort, including the participation of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), the Bonn Agreement for the North Sea and the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) for the Baltic Sea.
The project benefits from the technical support of expert partner institutions such as the Center of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (Cedre), the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) and the Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA).
Specifically, the project aimed to enhance emergency decision-making capabilities, to assess contingency planning and to strengthen cooperation and national emergency procedures. The deliverables under these objectives were presented as well as the remarkable achievements and the possible ways forward. Although the project had focused on the countries of the West Mediterranean such as Algeria, France, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia, it outcomes could be also beneficial for the rest of the Mediterranean countries and at inter-regional level.
The inter-regional HNS Response Manual and the update of the Maritime Integrated Decision Support Information System on Transport of Chemical Substances (MIDSIS TRCOS) were introduced by Cedre and REMPEC. The inter-regional HNS Response Manual had been prepared by experts from Cedre, ITOPF and ISPRA and agreed jointly by the Bonn Agreement, REMPEC and HELCOM. The Manual included a methodological approach, operational information, and regional specifications; and is available in English and French versions.
The REMPEC Focal Point from ANPE-Tunisia highlighted that a RETOS training session will be dedicated to MOIG members from oil and gas industry; on 15 June 2021; in South Hammamet-Tunisia.
All beneficiaries and partners of the project expressed their content with the results and thanked SGMer for its coordinating role. The European Union (DG ECHO) requested all participants to share and disseminate the deliverables of the project.
The Management committee would like to thank the Secretariat General for the sea of France for its kind invitation to this event.