ChemSAR

New procedures in place

The ChemSAR partners have jointly developed the first in the Baltic Sea region Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) for search and rescue (SAR) operations applicable to hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) incidents. The procedures were tested in table top exercises and simulations, and piloted in a live rescue exercise held on Estonian waters in September 2018 with over 100 role players, evaluators, and observers from eight countries. The procedures enable rescue maritime authorities and services to analyse capacities and capabilities, procedures and operational models in countries around the Baltic Sea, and to respond to HNS incidents in a more coordinated manner. The ready-made checklists additionally help harmonise e.g. assessing an incident, determining a restriction area, evaluating or decontaminating procedures.

Step by step in use

The ChemSAR operational plans and procedures are now compiled in a Handbook for Maritime SAR in HNS Incidents. The Finnish Border Guard, which coordinates rescue operations in Finland, uses the handbook in practice. The organisation also brought it up to the discussion at the HELCOM Response Working Group. The handbook is a guiding tool for rescue organisations in Sweden and Estonia too, including the Joint Response Coordination Centre Tallinn and Estonian Rescue Board. It is a reference document for rescue operations for the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

Towards standardisation

In most countries around the Baltic Sea, responsibility for dealing with HNS incidents is shared among several organisations. For this reason, it is a lengthy process until all organisations in all countries fully coordinate their operations. ChemSAR eLearning tool and chemical databank contribute to assimilating the guidelines into national procedures faster.

Further dissemination work of ChemSAR achievements is continued by the ResQU2 platform. The platform aims at improving preparedness of rescue authorities and services around the Baltic Sea to cope with incidents at sea and in ports, also those with hazardous and noxious substances.

ChemSAR matters

The Interreg project ChemSAR used EUR 1.89 million from the European Union to develop common operational plans and procedures for search and rescue operations in incidents involving hazardous and noxious substances. It offers ready-made tools for rescue authorities and services around the Baltic Sea to harmonise rescue operations, and in this way to save more lives and reduce the harm to the environment at the same time.

Now, the ChemSAR core partners contribute to the ResQU2 project platform that further develops the expertise of national authorities and rescue services to cope with accidents in the Baltic Sea and in ports, including those involving hazardous substances.