The implementation the next EU project, that is essential for the improvement of the natural environment of the Baltic Sea, is coming to the end. Baltic Master II - that is referred to - was the continuation of the key project called Baltic Master - part of the European Union Strategy for that region.
The conference closing the implementation of the Baltic Master II project, which took place in Gdańsk on 26 and 27 October 2011, was attended by the representatives of ports, ministries, regions and town councils, research centers, universities and individuals involved in maritime administration. The results of the activities of partners to project were discussed at the conference. The future directions of cooperation of the Baltic Sea States were also indicated in such areas as: reduction of emissions to the atmosphere, LNG - as an alternative fuel of the future, harmonization of waste management, oil contingency plans, risk assessment of the vessel traffic, etc.
Work within the framework of the Baltic Master II project - which is the continuation of Baltic Master project - begun in 2009. The project involved 48 partners from all Baltic Sea States, representing both local, regional and national, as well as research institutes and Pan-Baltic organizations.
The aim of the project was to improve the state of maritime safety by integrating local and regional development strategy with the cross-border cooperation. It concerned the improvement of the on land response capacity in the event of oil spills and prevention measures to protect the environment from the adverse effects of maritime transport.
Port of Gdynia Authority SA (with the main involvement of the Department of Environmental Protection), actively participated in two working groups of the project:
1 "WP 3 - Improved on land response capacity to oil spills"
2 "WP 4 - Enhanced prevention of pollution from maritime transport"
The Port has been a leading player in the field of preparation for the implementation of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention). PGA SA, within the Baltic Master II project, in cooperation with the Ship Design and Research Centre S.A. and the University of Ljubljana - prepared two studies on the risk assessment involved with the introduction of alien species. Theoretical calculations based on IMO guidelines (RES. MEPC.162 (56) G7) and the so called 'Slovenian model' previously used in the Port of Koper - were used due to the lack of official data from vessels. Analysis of the origin and quality of ballast water allows us to state that ships in ballast coming from the areas of Northern Europe have the greatest influence on the risk of introduction of alien species at the Port of Gdynia. The amounts of ballast water discharged annually as a result of cargo handling operations carried out in the Port of Gdynia were estimated - depending on the applied model - for 1 or 2 million tonnes. In accordance with Art.5 of the BWM Convention each State-Party is obliged to ensure in ports and Terminals designated by that Party where clearing or repair of ballast tanks occurs, adequate facilities for reception of sediments.
The Baltic Sea States are obliged, under „HELCOM Sea Action Plan”, to ratify the BWM Convention by the end of 2013 at the latest.
Participation of a PGA SA in the Baltic Master II project undoubtedly contributed to a further increase in the standards of activities to protect the environment carried out in the Port of Gdynia.
More information about the The Port of Gdynia S.A. activities under the Baltic Master II Project Are available on:
www.port.gdynia.pl and on the site of the project: www.balticmaster.org
