In recognition of the challenges posed to regional and local governments, and their assisting organisations, by pollution from shipping incidents, the EROCIPS Partnership has developed a project, with European Partners in France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and UK, to provide a timely response to coastal oil, chemical and inert pollution.

The Atlantic Area of the European Union has been the scene of a number of well-known shipping accidents over the last thirty years. These include the Amoco Cadiz, Betelgeuse, Aegean Sea, Sea Empress, Erika and Prestige. Each incident has demonstrated the strain that can be placed on regional and local government resources and management structures as responders attempt to limit the impact caused by the pollution on the shoreline assets of a coastal area. Although damaging, each of these events has also provided those involved with experience of how to deal with an incident. A number of Atlantic Area regional and local governments, together with their assisting organisations, are now well placed to build on this shoreline response experience.

The goal of the project is the formulation of a transferable methodology that communicates relevant information to responders and decision-makers involved in shoreline counter pollution operations following a shipping incident.

The shoreline response to oil, chemical and inert pollution from shipping accidents represents one of the greatest resource and management challenges likely to be faced by regional and local governments and assisting organisations (statutory agencies, academic institutions, non-governmental groups, representative organisations, etc.) involved in the spatial planning for sustainable use of coastal assets.

Pollutants pose a direct threat to coastal assets such as conservation sites, recreational beaches, shellfish beds, marinas/ harbours and wildlife. The indirect consequences of a pollution incident can be equally damaging with the loss of tourism confidence and income from fisheries undermining the economy of the polluted coast.

In order to meet the challenge, responding organisations have a structured response, usually as part of joint national and local contingency plans. These arrangements are based around:

- Protection of Coastal Assets (estuaries, harbours, aquaculture, etc), usually by booms/ barrages;
- Beach Clean-up;
- Wildlife Response;
- Waste transportation, and;
- Temporary Waste Storage.

Underlining all these activities is the need to ensure the safety of those carrying out the shoreline response and the public. In certain circumstances, toxic or explosion risk for example, there may also be a need for mass evacuation of local communities.

The response can be undermined by the use of inappropriate techniques, insufficient resources and inadequate capacity in management structures. The key to ensure that a response is effective is the provision of up to date information to responders via a focused management structure; the EROCIPS project provides this information.

The Emergency Response to Coastal Oil, Chemical and Inert Pollution from Shipping Project (EROCIPS) consists of a series of work packages designed to provide shoreline responders with the necessary information to ensure a targeted counter pollution response. The intention is to provide a procedure that can be applied elsewhere in the coastal regions of Europe.

The aim of the EROCIPS project is the ‘development of common, transnational methodologies, tools and techniques for dealing with the shoreline response to coastal pollution incidents, transferable across the EU, in order to support the sustainability of sea transport systems’.

In order to achieve this, regional and local governments need to share an understanding of the many socio economic and environmental factors that contribute to achieving an effective response. This includes both understanding the baseline situation along coastlines and what tools and techniques can be effectively applied in different situations and environments. It is also about effective integration of response information into other spatial planning areas so that there is co-ordinated response action and understanding of coastal pollution incidents and their shoreline effects. EROCIPS has set out four objectives, to encompass these requirements and contribute towards achieving its overall aim:

- to develop common tools and techniques for identifying the baseline position and categorising issues of risk and sensitivity on coastlines;
- to develop common tools and methods for identifying all information needed to plan effectively for a shoreline response to coastal pollution incidents;
- to develop common guidance, standards and protocols for dealing with coastal pollution incidents, transferable across European coastal locations, and;
- to link the framework for dealing with coastal pollution incidents with other spatial planning frameworks at the local/regional level to ensure a co-ordinated and effective response.

The EROCIPS project will not undertake statutory duties connected with the production of contingency plans, where stipulated by member nations. The purpose of the project is to provide added value to the shoreline response by providing regional and local governments with information to aid their response structure in the event of a shipping pollution incident.

Measure B-1 calls for the development of efficient and sustainable transport systems. EROCIPS directly addresses this issue. The sustainable development of both international and short sea shipping within the Atlantic Area region requires that there is an effective capability to deal with maritime pollution incidents of all types and sizes in order to protect onshore economic, environmental and social resources. EROCIPS will result in the ability for Regional and Local Government and their supporting organisations to provide a quick, efficient and effective on land response because they have the right tools, protocols, methods, procedures and information to use in planning and delivering this.

Eight work packages have been defined to achieve the objectives ( see figure 1 (16KB - pdf help)). The Work Packages (WP) deal with information needs of the regional and local government shoreline response with regards to:

WP 1: Pollution Threats:

In this work package a strategic approach is adopted where the bigger maritime picture is considered. The complex mix of international and short sea shipping, associated port operations and past incidents within the Atlantic Area will be analysed to determine potential pollution scenarios.

The WP will Inform existing and developing contingency plans by producing a partner region inventory of natural, human and built environment features, together with coastal oceanographic and meteorological processes (wind, tides etc).

WP 2: Response Information:

Development of protection and clean-up strategies in advance of an incident supports an effective response strategy.

Under this work package regional priorities and spatial plans for shoreline clean-up boom/ barrage deployments, waste transport will be developed to augment contingency plans.

WP 3: Counter Pollution Resources:

The clean-up of beached pollution is both, labour and equipment intensive. Whilst regional and local governments hold some equipment stocks and have some staff trained in pollution response these stocks and staff would soon be exhausted in most pollution scenarios. On a European level, it is unlikely that any one regional or local government authority will have in-house all the specialist knowledge to clean-up all pollution types. Specialist advice may be required to conduct a safe and environmentally aware clean up. In this work package an inventory of locally and regionally available resources will be created. This will include specialist pollution response equipment (such as booms/ barrages and skimmers), certificated pollution contractors, and simple but essential equipment.

The Work Package will include the collection of regional expertise for the response to coastal shipping pollution. The EROCIPS Partners have experience based upon response to the Amoco Cadiz, Aegean Sea, Sea Empress, Erika, Princess Eva and Prestige incidents. Transnationally there are opportunities to share this expertise with other European local authorities and regional governments (see WP8 below).

WP 4: Training Information:

This work package addresses three different needs. Firstly, regional and local government staff need to be trained to make assessments of shoreline pollution to ensure the appropriate application of resources during an incident. Direct staff training courses and guidance material will be developed.

Secondly, this work package will develop an awareness-training package for elected officials and spatial planners. The training package will deal with the implications of a shipping pollution incident and the requirements for response arrangements.

Thirdly, contractors and volunteers may form a large percentage of the response staff, the health and safety of these staff is paramount. This work package will develop a short training package on clean-up, waste management, health and safety, etc. for contractors and volunteers involved in shoreline response.

WP 5: Pollution Modelling:

The likely area of beaching and the fate of offshore pollution can be modelled. Pre-identifying the area of impact and the likely quantity of pollution that will beach will improve the regional and local government response strategy. This work package will define the modelling output required and assess how this can be integrated into the shoreline response. The work package will apply existing models to the new pollution scenarios identified in WP1 and develop innovative modelling methods for pilot areas in the UK and Spain.

WP 6: Management Information:

Providing information to responders, spatial planners and stakeholders is an integral component of pre-incident planning and incident response. There are two elements within this work package. The first addresses pre-incident awareness publicity material and its dissemination to all stakeholders (public, local/national/regional government, press, statutory bodies, etc.). This will be developed using leaflets, information displays, public forums/ seminars and the EROCIPS website.

The second element is the provision of information to responders, including the innovative application of information technology to ensure the identification of coastal assets, the efficient deployment of staff and equipment to deal with a major pollution incident, and the control and logging of the clean-up and the costs incurred.

WP7: Environmental Monitoring:

Following a shipping incident, regional and local governments, with other organisation and stakeholders will be aiming to achieve the re-establishment of the pre-pollution coastal, shoreline, estuarine eco-systems and coastal industries (e.g. fisheries). Achievement of this aim requires a detailed pre-pollution knowledge of the coastal habitats. This work package comprises the development of a measurement and assessment methodology for coastal areas.

WP8: Dissemination of Project Outcomes:

The analysis and dissemination of the outcomes of the EROCIPS project is essential to ensure transferability of derived methods, protocols, and procedures to other organisations associated with shipping pollution response along the Atlantic Area coast and to other European regions. All partners will support this work package. Dissemination will be through the delivery of conferences and seminar events, development of the EROCIPS website, and issues of reports and information leaflets. Submissions will be made to regional and local spatial planning organisations, responders and other EU organisations (e.g. European Maritime Safety Agency, DG Environment’s Management Committee on Marine Pollution, etc.), the Atlantic Arc Commission and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR). The work package will advise spatial planners on the inclusion of measures to address coastal shipping pollution when developing landuse, development, recreational use, tourism strategies, etc.

EROCIPS is the first time that a transnational initiative has focussed on the needs of local/regional administrations to deliver an integrated approach to emergency planning for coastal pollution incidents. This is the core of the innovative approach of this project. EROCIPS will provide a mechanism for the exchange of best practice and the development of solutions to real problems that are specific to local maritime pollution clean-up actions.

In addition to this fundamental innovative approach, EROCIPS has a number of innovative aspects to the processes and management approach that it will take:

- it will provide a route through which local administrations can interact as a cohesive body with already pre-formed bodies that deal with maritime pollution at the national and regional level.

- It will link ICZM and spatial planning with the need for preparedness for emergency planning.

- It will build on the experience of local/regional authorities involved in recent pollution incidents, addressing real problems that have been encountered by Local/Regional Administrations in dealing with maritime pollution.

- It develops effective working mechanisms for involving non professionals and volunteers in responding to pollution incidents

EROCIPS also has technically innovative aspects:

- A common thread running throughout the EROCIPS project is the incorporation of geo-spatial data managed via GIS tools. Use of GIS on a large scale Atlantic Area basis to develop a technical response capability in shipping pollution contingency planning is innovative. GIS also provides a platform on which the wider stakeholder groups, and media, can be briefed and kept informed, particularly through the use of web-enabled GIS.

- EROCIPS will make innovative use of Information Technology through WP5 , WP6 and WP8. In WP5 an Internet web service will be developed that will provide access to trajectory models. EROCIPS makes an inovative contribution by linking these models to pollution response command and control systems within the Atlantic Area. In WP6 a pre-existing integrated management information system will be configured to meet the needs of coastal pollution response. This will include the use of hand held devices to log on-scene surveys using mobile phone links. In WP8, all the documented outcomes of EROCIPS: GIS derived maps, reports, manuals and training information will be made available for downloading

- The development of an Atlantic Area wide classification of coastal sensitivities, not restricted within national boundaries, for use in contingency planning is a further innovative technical element, enabling sound decisions to be taken in the use of clean up techniques that will reduce the environmental harm of the pollution event. It is possible that this system could be expanded to provide European wide coverage to other Areas.

- The development of an Atlantic Area wide classification of coastal sensitivities, not restricted within national boundaries, for use in contingency planning is a further innovative technical element, enabling sound decisions to be taken in the use of clean up techniques that will reduce the environmental harm of the pollution event. It is possible that this system could be expanded to provide European wide coverage to other Areas.

EROCIPS will deliver a number of tangible outputs and results. The key outputs revolve around development of a range of tools, information databases, guidance and management systems to support effective contingency planning. These include direct project results and long term benefits.

The results of EROCIPS include:

- A substantial part of the Atlantic Area coastline supported by a range of risk studies, pollution prediction planning models, baseline environmental sensitivies analysis and GIS data management systems for effective contingency planning;

- A network of expertise and list of equipment which can be called on at times of emergency;

- Greater awareness and understanding of pollution and contingency planning through training and awareness packages, and;

- An extensive dissemination strategy to ensure that the tools developed in EROCIPS are widely available throughout the Atlantic Area.

The longer term impacts will be:

- An effective, efficient and common transnational approach to planning for shoreline and coastal pollution incidents resulting from maritime disasters;

- A faster, more effective and efficient response to shoreline and coastal pollution incidents with greater co-operation between regional partners and with national partners;

- A network for ensuring that lessons are learnt from each new incident. EROCIPS can act as an effective conduit for implementing learning points. In the medium to longer term this will lead to better preparedness and better response and will avoid the use of inappropriate techniques that could exacerbate environmental problems rather than alleviate them, and;

- Incorporation of EROCIPS outcomes into spatial planning to ensure that spatial planning provides for incident response in terms of pre-incident equipment deployment and areas where the response should aim to minimise the quantity of pollution impacting on the shoreline. For example by using the output of EROCIPS pollution risk study (WP1) and combining ICZM coastline sensitivities combined with EROCIPS generated pollution sensitivity and clean-up strategies (WP2), spatial planners will be able to identify shoreline accessibility requirements e.g. where the coastline has a high sensitivity and booming/ barrage deployment is advised then well maintained access for responders and their equipment must be provided and maintained. Conversely, if the EROCIPS sensitivity plan advises that for a certain stretch of coastline that "clean up" may cause more damage than "leave alone" then provision of access need not be considered within spatial plans, such as those, which support ICZM.

Other longer term tangible benefits of EROCIPS include:

- underpinning the sustainability of the European Community’s policy to develop and promote short sea shipping;

- more broadly, supporting the sustainability of increasing shipping traffic of all types expected in Atlantic Area waters;

- Protection of bio-diversity, breeding areas, and marine species of special interest through implementation of effective response and clean-up strategies;

- Minimisation of the contamination of soil and water resources through the pre-planning of waste storage and disposal options;

- Minimisation of resource degradation through effective response and clean-up thereby promoting durable employment opportunities;

- Maximisation of resource availability, such as sites for aquaculture, through effective planning, and response to maritime pollution;

- Protection of leisure and tourism employment and markets, and;

- Protection of cultural and natural heritage.

These are all essential to contribute to the long term sustainable development of coastal areas and sea transport systems in the Atlantic Area.

The EROCIPS Partnership consists of:

1. Devon County Council (UK)- Lead Partner
2. Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (Portugal)
3. Centro Tecnologico del Mar, Fundación CETMAR (Spain)
4. Consellería de Pesca e Asuntos Marítimos (Spain)
5. Consellería De Medio Ambiente (Spain)
6. Conseil Régional d’Aquitaine (France)
7. Conseil Régional d’Bretagne (France)
8. Conseil Régional des Pays de la Loire (France)
9. Conseil Régional de Poitou Charentes (France)
10. Dorset County Council (UK)
11. Department of the Environment – Environment and Heritage Service (UK)
12. Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) (Portugal)
13. Pembrokeshire County Council (UK)
14. HIDROMOD (Portugal)
15. Devon Wildlife Trust (UK)