The annual HELCOM oil spill response exercise, BALEX DELTA 2024, reached its final day today in Klaipeda, Lithuania, the country which also holds the current Chairmanship of HELCOM from 1 July 2024 until June 2026. Three successful days of various rehearsals at sea, on the shore and at port have been completed in fine weather. Specially equipped ships and crews from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden took part in the drill at sea.
“The BALEX exercises are very important annual simulations that take place in a different host country each year. Coordination between the different countries and their capabilities as well harmonizing practices are essential. This is particularly important in the context of today’s regional geopolitical challenges, not only in the context of business as usual, but also in the case of the shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea”, says Vitalijus Auglys, Chair of HELCOM and the Head of the Pollution Prevention Policy Group with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, also attending the exercise personally.
“The annual BALEX exercises conducted by the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention, ongoing since the late 1980s, have significantly enhanced the readiness of Baltic Sea coastal countries to respond collectively to major pollution incidents. This year makes no exception and all involved countries benefited from this well-organized event. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Basin, known as the Helsinki Convention. Since its inception, the HELCOM Response Working Group has been committed to ensuring that all related procedures and plans are in place and regularly updated as needed”, says Markus Helavuori, HELCOM Deputy Executive Secretary and Professional Secretary for the HELCOM Maritime, Response and Sea-based pressures Working Groups.
The main organizers of BALEX DELTA 2024 were the Lithuanian Navy, Klaipeda Fire Rescue Department of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, and the Baltic Sea Rehabilitation Center of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum. Observers representing various organizations such as WWF and HELCOM participated in the exercise.
During the BALEX 2024 exercise, various tasks were carried out such as a BALEX ALPHA table-top exercise on response to incidents with Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) cargo, pollution detection with EMSA CleanSeaNet service support, pollution monitoring from the air, pollution dispersion modeling (SeaTrackWeb), response of pollution (simulated by 20m3 of popcorn) at sea, in the port and on shore, ships to ships transfer of oil (STS) as well as providing help for wildlife affected by oil.
Firefighting teams from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia carried out an on shore response operation in the Curonian Lagoon. Rendering assistance to birds affected by oil was practiced by the Baltic Sea Rehabilitation Center of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum.
About BALEX DELTA
The annual international marine pollution response exercise in the Baltic Sea, BALEX, is held in accordance with the 1992 Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (the Helsinki Convention). The Convention mandates cooperative responses and preparedness among the Baltic Sea States for large-scale accidents. The general objective of the BALEX exercises is to ensure that every Contracting Party is able to lead a major response operation.
BALEX exercises are hosted by the Contracting Parties according to a schedule agreed on by the HELCOM Response Working Group. BALEX has been held every year since 1989.
Contact
Johanna Laurila
Communications Advisor, HELCOM
Johanna.laurila@helcom.fi
Tel +358 40 647 3996
Markus Helavuori
Deputy Executive Secretary, Professional Secretary (WG Maritime, WG Response, WG Sea-based pressures)
Markus.helavuori@helcom.fi
Tel +358 40 162 6520
