Oil Pollution in the Baltic Sea

This thorough review is based on observational satellite, airborne and in-situ data, scientific literature and technical reports, as well as the substantial experience of the authors, who hail from several Baltic Sea countries. They pay special attention to national practices, HELCOM and EMSA CleanSeaNet activities in oil pollution monitoring, and show different applications of the Seatrack Web model for oil spill drift prediction and the identification of illegal polluters, as well as for environmental risk assessment. Furthermore, some of the results on satellite monitoring of the Nord Stream gas pipeline construction in the Gulf of Finland are presented.  This volume addresses the needs of specialists working in different fields of marine, environmental, and remote sensing sciences. It is a useful handbook on oil pollution for international and governmental agencies, as well as for policy makers who plan and manage oil and gas projects, the construction of ports and terminals, shipping, fishery, recreation, and tourist activities in the Baltic Sea. It also offers graduate and undergraduate students in marine and environmental sciences a valuable resource and reference work on the subject.

Introduction.- HELCOM actions to eliminate illegal and accidental oil pollution from ships in the Baltic Sea.- European Maritime Safety Agency CleanSeaNet activities in the Baltic Sea.- Oil pollution in waters of Finland.- The German operational monitoring system in the Baltic Sea: Sensors, methods, and example data.- Oil pollution in waters of Latvia.- Oil pollution in waters of Lithuania.- Satellite monitoring of oil pollution in the Southeastern Baltic Sea.- Seatrack Web: The HELCOM tool for oil spill prediction and identification of illegal polluters.- Seatrack Web – a numerical tool for Environmental Risk Assessment in the Baltic Sea.- Satellite monitoring of the Nord Stream gas pipeline construction in the Gulf of Finland Andrey Conclusions.