Tag: HELCOM

Nine Baltic marine areas were described as ecologically or biologically significant, on the sidelines of the Regional Workshop to Facilitate the Description of EBSAs in Baltic, in late February, in Helsinki. These include five transboundary areas, covering waters of two or more countries, and extend into 14 of the 17 Baltic Sea sub-basins.

The early results from STM projects indicate that e-navigation is the way forward. HELCOM is looking forward to seeing more results and concrete implementation in the Baltic, where almost 7% of the world’s total goods volume is transported.

BPO announced that, during the Green InfraPort project held on 7.3.2017, the topics discussed included energy management in ports and terminals, on-shore power supply, port reception facilities and small-scale LNG infrastructure development.

Work plans for the Cooperation Platform on Port Reception Facilities and HELCOM Maritime sub-group on green ship technology and alternative fuels have been adopted during the 38th HELCOM meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

A new HELCOM Recommendation on biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes and HELCOM monitoring guidelines are among other topics of the 5-day meeting in Tallinn, Estonia. The ''State of the Baltic Sea'' report will be the common basis for governments for further measures to protect the sea.

IMO MEPC 70 has agreed to limit NOx emissions from ships' exhaust gases in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. After final confirmations at the next MEPC meeting in spring 2017, these two decisions will create a larger NECA for new ships built in or after 2021.

HELCOM says that the final decision on whether the Baltic Sea becomes a NOx Emission Control Area (NECA) is in the hands of the IMO. According to estimates, Baltic Sea NECA has potential to reduce the annual nitrogen input cost-efficiently and significantly – around 7 kilotons – to the Baltic Sea.

The Russian Federation hosted a workshop on Baltic Sea and North Sea NECAs in St. Petersburg, to advance the action after the decision by the countries of both sea areas to apply in parallel for a NECA status from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). When enforced, the Emission Control Areas (ECA) for Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), will considerably limit the polluting emissions from ships.

IMO MEPC 69 agreed that the Baltic Sea special area for sewage discharges from passenger ships under Annex IV or the MARPOL Convention will take effect by latest 2021 for IMO registered passenger vessels. However, in certain cases of direct passages between St. Petersburg area and the North Sea there is a two-year extension to the deadline, until 2023.