Today’s meeting of the HELCOM Group of Experts on Safety of Navigation () will discuss further measures to improve safety of navigation in the Baltic Sea region under the chairmanship of Mr. Valtteri Laine, Finnish Transport Safety Agency. Among the topics on the agenda is a discussion on enhanced cooperation between HELCOM, the Baltic Sea Hydrographic and the Baltic Ordnance Survey Board, to further increase the safety of ships’ main routes by combining re-surveys with targeted clearance of historical mines. The Baltic Ordnance Survey Board is a regional cooperation structure carrying out joint mine clearance operations in the Baltic Sea region. The Baltic Sea Hydrographic Commission is regional cooperation under the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) which has since long been cooperating with HELCOM to implement the regional re-survey scheme, originally adopted at the HELCOM Meeting of Ministers of Transport in Copenhagen 2001. Other issues include improving the annual HELCOM accident reports as well as implementation of e-navigation solutions in the region–a joint commitment by the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting. * * *Note for editorsShipping has steadily increased in the Baltic Sea during the last decade, reflecting intensifying co-operation and economic prosperity around the region. On the average, 2,000 ships are at sea every day and by 2017, maritime transport of goods in the region has been estimated to double. At the same time, increasing maritime transportation threatens fragile ecosystems and the livelihoods of the many people who depend on the sea. The Maritime Group of HELCOM (), and its sub-groups like the , identifies and promotes actions to limit sea-based pollution and ways for safer navigation. It also works to ensure enforcement and harmonized implementation of IMOs international shipping regulations in accordance to the 1992 Helsinki Convention. * * * For further information, please contact:Hermanni BackerProfessional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial PlanningHELCOMTel: +358 46 8509199Skype: helcom02E-mail: hermanni.backer(@)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(@)helcom.fi
Today the HELCOM expert group on safety of navigation discusses improving cooperation between Baltic Sea Hydrographic Commission, Baltic Ordnance Survey Board and HELCOM.
