International exercise tackling marine pollution in Elefsina

An international exercise involving Greek authorities and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on tackling marine pollution was held in Elefsina Bay on Thursday, in the presence of Marine and Island Policy Minister George Voulgarakis and the head of the Greek coast guard Vice Admiral Ilias Sionidis. The five-stage exercise was described as a success, with all the participant services showing a high degree of readiness and training in combatting every possible form of pollution in Greek seas.

The exercise was based on a scenario of a massive oil spill caused by the impact of a tanker on the docks and its subsequent collision with a freighter that also spilled fuel into the sea. It involved the deployment of coast guard pollution clearing craft and the ultra-modern oil pollution response vessel "Santa Maria" chartered by EMSA, as well as local authority services.
In statements afterward, Voulgarakis stressed that protection of the marine environment was a priority for his ministry: "We attribute great importance to prevention and, of course, to response. A proof of this was today's exercise in cooperation with EMSA."
He also highlighted the fact that EMSA had chosen to carry out the exercise in Greece and that it believed that ministry's services had the required know-how and experience to handle incidents of marine pollution.
Voulgarakis also announced that Greece was preparing a more general plan for protecting Greek seas and shores in preparation for the operation of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, which would bring large tankers carrying large quantities of oil into the Aegean.
"We want to be ready and to have laid down rules when the pipeline begins operation," he added.

Source: ana.gr

09.11.2007