ChemSAR project creates uniform operational plans and standard operational procedures to save human lives in maritime HNS incidents

There is a lack of operational plans and standard operational procedures (SOP) for search and rescue (SAR) operations applicable to cases of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) incidents in the Baltic Sea Region according to rescue authorities and study reports. There are large quantities of different chemicals transported by sea and the risk of accidents exists. Demanding maritime accidents are here almost always international in nature, which emphasizes the significance of common procedures and common level of know-how.

The ChemSAR project will create operational plans and SOPs needed in SAR operations of HNS incidents in a manner that the lives of the rescue crews will be protected and the impact on the environment will be minimized. It will develop e-learning material to enhance and harmonize the level of know-how to ensure safe rescue operations and a chemical data bank to act as the basis for information seeking in rescue operations and e-learning. The project outcome will be piloted in a chart exercise and in an international rescue exercise at sea to test the applicability of the project results in practice.

The Baltic Sea countries have different national practices for maritime HNS accidents but these incidents call for joint rescue operations and procedures. The project partners represent the rescue authorities, i.e. the project’s main target groups.

The lead partner of the project is the Centre for Maritime Studies of the Brahea Centre at the University of Turku, Finland. Other partners are The Finnish Border Guard, NOVIA University of Applied Sciences, Marine Technology, Finland, Helsinki City Rescue Department, Finland, Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, Swedish Coast Guard Headquarters, Klaipėda University, Lithuania, Free and Hanseatic City if Hamburg/Ministry of Environment and Energy/Department of Emission Control/Fire Brigade Hamburg, Germany and Central Command for Maritime Emergencies Germany (Haveriekommando).