Content: Description

Due to the federal structure in Germany maritime emergencies have to be managed by both the Federal Government and the five Federal Coastal States. On January 1st, 2003 the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME) (in German: Havariekommando) commenced operations. The CCME is a joint institution of the German Federal Government and the Federal Coastal States. It was established to set up and carry out a mutual maritime emergency management in the North Sea and in the Baltic Sea. It is based in Cuxhaven (Northwest Germany).

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR COMBATING OF SPILLS OF OIL AND HARMFUL SUBSTANCES

The large Wadden Sea area off the German coastline with highly sensitive regions in the North Sea and the shallow waters regions (called Bodden Sea) in the Baltic are key factors for a wide-ranging contingency planning dealing with marine pollution. Therefore German authorities have launched a comprehensive procurement programme to complete and improve the national ability to respond effectively against marine pollutions at sea and along the shoreline. It started in 1977 with oil spill response equipment and included:

• prevention measures;
• recovery and clean-up techniques;
• remediation of contaminated sensitive coastal areas.

Taking into account the results of a comprehensive research and development programme of the Federal Minister for Research and Technology, more than 200 million € have been spent for specialised recovery vessels and equipment, surveillance airplanes, studies, etc. to improve the national capabilities to respond to pollutions at sea and the coastline. Germany will spend until 2005 nearly the same amount of money, to complete and modernise its wide-ranging equipment for marine pollution control.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL ORGANISATION AND LEGISLATION

According to the provisions of an administrative agreement 1974/1995, counter pollution measures are a matter of joint responsibility of the Federal Government and of the five Federal Coastal States bordering the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. In the North and Baltic Sea, the Federal Government as well as the coastal states are obliged to take precautionary and protective action in the case of maritime casualties.

In order to comply with the demands for a uniform and tight operational command and control the Federal Government and the coastal states agreed to set up a Central Command for Maritime Emergencie Germany(CCME).

• Central Command for Maritime Emergencies

TASKS AND STRUCTURE

The CCME performs the tasks which were formerly incumbent on the Federal Marine Pollution Control Unit, the States Marine Pollution Control Unit, the National Contact Point Germany, the Central Reporting Point as well as the tasks assigned to it in accordance with the Agreement on the Setting up of a Central Command for Maritime Emergencies Germany which are set forth in the following.

• Central Command for Maritime Emergencies

MARITIME SITUATION VIEW

The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies Germany without a current situation view – inconceivable, as the saying goes. The discussion on the maritime situation view to be kept by the Maritime Emergencies Reporting and Assessment Centre (MERAC) is, therefore, held from the points of view "as much information as possible" and "as much information as required".

• Maritime Emergencies Reporting and Assessment Centre

RESPONSIBILITIES

The sections "Maritime Pollution Response / High Sea Section" and "Maritime Pollution Response / Coastal Section" have to update the German response strategy and to maintain the best possible preparedness for pollution response within and outside of the territorial waters. The section "Maritime Pollution Response / High Sea Section" is especially competent for oil spill control on the high sea; the section "Maritime Pollution Response / Coastal Section" is responsible within the coastal area, the Wadden Sea and also for beach cleaning.

• Marine Pollution Response/High Sea Section
• Marine Pollution Response/Coastal Section

EXECUTION OF RESPONSE ACTIONS

The individual recovery operations will be performed either by the local Federal Waterway and Shipping Board and/or by those local boards of the five Coastal States, which are competent for water quality, beach cleaning, etc. in the respective area. Other organisations (navy, salvage companies, tank ship owners etc.) will be asked for assistance, if necessary. Agreements on details of technical support between the Federal waterway and shipping administration and the afore mentioned institutions have been made as part of the wide-ranging national contingency planning.

STRATEGY FOR COMBATING MARINE POLLUTIONS AT SEA

At sea priority is given to mechanical recovery. The use of chemical dispersants could be considered if this method is to be applied outside of the shallow coastal regions and this response should be regarded as the last resort, if no other counter-actions succeed. The attitude to dispersants remains very restrictive. Their use, therefore, is limited to exceptional situations. In the Baltic Sea dispersant spraying is almost prohibited. As a general rule the use of dispersants is not recommended within isobath - 20m. Recommendations for the use of these products comprise the following general principles:

• no dispersants in shallow waters (Wadden Sea) or in locations with limited water exchange (Baltic Sea);
• elsewhere, in order to minimise damage risk, the use of dispersants may be justified when the consequences of chemical treatment are considered less serious than the consequences of leaving the oil untreated.

An annual exercise and education programme includes all response vessels and their crews. Ten exercise days are scheduled for all response vessels, in order to keep the national preparedness on a high level. Bilateral marine pollution plans have been agreed with the neighbouring countries Denmark and The Netherlands. Similar arrangements exist in the Baltic Sea with Sweden.

STRATEGY FOR COMBATING SHORELINE POLLUTIONS AND RESTORATION

The national contingency plan contains provisions for all parties involved in a major spill disaster. It includes the procedures and measures of coordination and cooperation between the Federal Government/Federal Coastal States, their authorities and private sectors involved in counter pollution activities. Special plans - including sensitivity maps for protection and response in sensitive zones (mainly the Wadden Sea) - facilitate response decisions to be taken by the ELG. Computerised models of pollutant movements/spreading cover the North Sea, the Germ an Bight (operational numerical model), the Wadden Sea and the Baltic. They are used for preparation of defence lines at the shoreline but also for the identification of potential polluters (track back mode). A comprehensive computerised decision and information support system will facilitate and speed up the response activities to overcome the consequences of serious accidents at sea and grave pollution disasters.

RESOURCES FOR DEALING WITH OIL AND CHEMICAL POLLUTION

Twenty-seven response vessels (21 recovery vessels and 8 support units) can be mobilised within two hours after alert. The national clean-up capacity should be sufficient to cope with a spontaneous outflow of 15000 m³ crude oil within 24-48 hours off the German coastline, provided that the meteorological and local conditions do not prevent mechanical recovery. Four major response vessels - 1 hopper dredger and 3 buoy-tender vessels - are permanently in operation at sea, in order to achieve a rapid reaction in the initiating spill spreading phase.

In addition, two aircrafts equipped with advanced electronic sensor devices are used for regular aerial surveillance and the positioning of response units to achieve a higher efficiency of oil recovery.