30 March 2006

EMSA calls for additional  “reserve for disasters”

The European Maritime Safety Agency has just launched a second call for tenders to provide additional oil pollution response capabilities in EU waters.  This comes after it set in place an initial network during 2005, based on response vessels in the Baltic, Mediterranean and Atlantic regions.  With this call, EMSA is looking to extend its Atlantic and Mediterranean capabilities from 2007.

“Given the enthusiastic response from industry last year, I am very much looking forward to receiving innovative, high quality proposals this time around,” said EMSA Executive Director Willem de Ruiter; “The procedure will be quicker, as we do not need to shortlist companies for this second round.”

Background

EMSA has the responsibility for ensuring a high, uniform and effective level of prevention of, and response to, pollution by ships within the Community by offering stand-by oil recovery vessels to support Member States. Taking into account the extensive sea areas that must be covered, as well as the need for the rapid arrival of EMSA contracted vessels and equipment on-site, the task represents a significant challenge. It is expected that, as a result of the response to this new call, some significant gaps will be filled, and this will enable improved response in the Atlantic and Mediterranean areas. The budget for this second round will be the same as for the first in 2005 (€17.5 million), and there will be a further call to cover the Black Sea in 2007.

Following a prior information notice published in the European Official Journal on 20^th January 2006, potential contractors have now been invited to submit proposals which cover:

·         the availability of vessels in the selected areas, which can be transformed rapidly, and at short notice, into oil recovery vessels;

·         the capability to operate as an at-sea oil recovery vessel at the time of an oil spill under the management of an EU Member State; 

·         the obligation to respond positively to all requests for assistance to respond to an oil spill, regardless of the spill location;

·         participation in annual multinational at-sea spill response exercises.

A copy of the call for tender (Official Journal Ref. 2006/S 62-064083) can also be found under “Procurement” on the EMSA website at: http://www.emsa.eu.int