Ireland is hosting European experts in Dublin for a three-day workshop to improve the use of aerial surveillance to detect marine pollution and identify polluters.
Some 50 delegates from 16 European countries are attending the eighth European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) workshop on surveillance systems for marine pollution detection and assessment.
The event, hosted by Ireland on behalf of EMSA, begins on Tuesday, the 22nd of September, and will focus particularly on aerial surveillance and its role in detecting ship-source pollution.
Identifying Marine Polluters
The workshop will examine the enforcement chain for ship-source pollution, including the operational and legal aspects of surveillance and how information gathered from the air can help identify suspected polluters and provide evidence for prosecutions.
Delegates include specialists involved in aerial surveillance as well as legal and enforcement personnel from EU member states.
Practical tabletop exercises and discussion sessions are also planned, with participants sharing experience and best practice in pollution detection and assessment.
The programme includes a visit to the Irish Air Corps, where delegates will view military and Irish Coast Guard aircraft and surveillance equipment used in Ireland.
Coast Guard Cooperation
Minister of State Seán Canney said cooperation between the Irish Coast Guard, EMSA and other European countries strengthens the ability to prevent, detect and respond to marine pollution.
“The knowledge generated through these surveillance systems allows us to make informed policy decisions and identify emerging risks which ultimately safeguard our marine environment,” he said.
“We are delighted to welcome delegates to Dublin with a view to sharing expertise and driving early detection and monitoring which will help keep our seas and coastal communities resilient for future generations.”
Aerial Surveillance and Enforcement
EMSA executive director Maja Markovčić Kostelac said aerial surveillance, combined with the agency’s Integrated Maritime Services, plays an important role in detecting and verifying marine pollution in European waters and identifying polluters.
She said the recent amendment of the EU Ship-Source Pollution Directive made the Dublin workshop a timely opportunity to exchange experience on surveillance and its role in pollution enforcement.
EMSA is organising the workshop under its Consultative Technical Group for Marine Pollution Preparedness and Response framework, and it takes place during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU.
