Author: Eeva Nyyssönen

IMO Ballast Water Management Convention for ships enters
into force 8 September 2017After over a decade of collaborative preparations, the
Baltic Sea region is well equipped for implementation

The International Convention for the Control and Management
of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, originally signed in 2004, enters into
force today 8 September 2017. The Baltic Sea coastal countries are well
prepared for this major milestone, as they have cooperated on technical details
of its regional implementation within HELCOM for over a decadeRound goby. Photo: Žilvinas PūtysShips’ ballast water, routinely taken on by ships for stability
and structural integrity, may carry alien species which are harmful to the
marine ecosystems and biodiversity in many ways, especially in fragile marine
areas such as the Baltic Sea. The subject of the Convention, safe management of
ships’ ballast water, has a major role in preventing this route of spreading
non-indigenous species.Based on latest HELCOM data, 14 new non-indigenous species
have appeared in the Baltic Sea for the first time during 2011–2015, with over
130 introductions in total since the 19th century”The entry into force of the Ballast Water Management
Convention is a major step for the whole world but naturally also for the
Baltic Sea region. It will also put the results of our intensive regional
preparations to a real test. However, I am confident that with all their
expertise and the work done so far, the relevant HELCOM groups are well
prepared to support to any relevant implementation issues emerging during the
next years.” says Monika Stankiewicz, HELCOM Executive Secretary.Wide collaborative efforts come to fruitionImmediately after signature of the Convention in 2004, following
the pioneering work within the Baltic Sea scientific community and the
international developments around the Convention at IMO, the HELCOM Maritime
Working Group started substantial joint work in this field by establishing a
dedicated Ballast Water Correspondence Group under the lead of FinlandSince this start, the coastal countries of the Baltic Sea
have co-operated within HELCOM, as well as together with other regional seas
cooperation structures like OSPAR, on a number of specific issues around the
foreseen implementation of the Ballast Water Convention in the Baltic Sea
regionEven if the core work is carried out at the International
Maritime Organisation (IMO), this kind of supportive region-specific cooperation
on implementation is foreseen by the Ballast Water Convention itself (Article
13.3)Examples of concrete output from the preparatory regional cooperation
within HELCOM include a comprehensive harmonised implementation procedure on
exemptions (Reg. A-4 of the Convention) with a related , released in
a renewed form this autumn; a series of regional recommendations concerning
ballast water exchange (BWM.2/Circ.14, BWM.2/Circ.22, and BWM.2/Circ.39); as
well as keeping up-to-date on new invasions by a dedicated Since 2012, the core technical work has been carried out
within a dedicated intergovernmental task group – the Joint HELCOM-OSPAR Task
Group on Ballast Water Management Convention Exemptions (HELCOM/OSPAR TG
BALLAST) – formed by the participating countries and representatives of the
shipping industry and NGOs.Future work to tackle remaining issuesOver the years, several HELCOM projects have supported this
intergovernmental dialogue with substantial input, starting from the GEF funded
Baltic Sea regional project (2003–2007). The latest of these is the project
“COMPLETE” which will further develop the regional implementation during 2017–2019,
with HELCOM involvement and co-funding from the EU Interreg programmeAs one of the latest developments, a new roadmap for
regional implementation of the outstanding issues on Ballast Water Convention
in the Baltic Sea was adopted in December 2016 by the HELCOM Heads of
Delegation (HOD), replacing the completed HELCOM roadmap from 2007The upcoming meetings of the HELCOM Maritime working group
(10–12 October 2017, St.Petersburg) and HELCOM/OSPAR TG BALLAST (16–17 November
2017, Helsinki) will provide opportunities to consider substantial issues
related to the implementation of the Ballast Water Convention in the Baltic Sea
region. This includes following up on the progress on ratifying the BWM
Convention by the remaining coastal countries.Read more:  * Note for editors:During the last decade shipping has steadily increased in
the Baltic Sea, reflecting intensifying co-operation and economic prosperity
around the region. At the same time, increasing maritime transportation
threatens fragile ecosystems and the livelihoods of the many people who depend
on the seaHELCOM Maritime Working Group identifies and promotes
actions to limit sea-based pollution and finds ways for safer navigation.
Established in 1975, the group also deals with the harmonized implementation
and enforcement of international shipping regulationsHELCOM is an intergovernmental organization made up of the
nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its
primary aims as a governing body are to protect the marine environment of the
Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, as well as to ensure safe maritime
navigation. The official name of HELCOM is the Baltic Marine Environment
Protection Commission; it is the governing body of the Helsinki Convention  * For more information, please contact:Hermanni Backer
Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groups
HELCOM
Tel:  +358 46 8509199
Skype: helcom02
E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi​

IMO Ballast Water Management Convention for ships enters into force 8 September 2017

The first meeting of the HELCOM GREEN TEAM strives to
advance sustainable shipping technology and new fuels in the region by
considering effective incentivesJoint session with HELCOM, CBSS, other regional
organisations, and stakeholders considers direction of regional efforts

Promoting sustainable shipping technology and new fuels in
the Baltic Sea is the theme of a full day event co-organised by HELCOM today,
Tuesday 5 September 2017, on the Island of Donsö in the Gothenburg archipelago.
 hoto: ShutterstockThe event is a part of the HELCOM commitment given in the UN
Ocean Conference in July 2017 to follow up the recent regulatory developments
in the Baltic Sea region, including restrictions to nitrogen oxide (NOx)
emissions from ships’ exhaust gases through a NOx Emission Control Area (NECA)The day will kick off with the first meeting of the HELCOM
Maritime Sub-group on Green Technology and Alternative Fuels for Shipping
(GREEN TEAM). The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) expert group
on maritime policy will meet in parallelThe afternoon will feature a dedicated session on a joint
regional agenda for green shipping, technology, and alternative fuels. At the
joint session, the nearly 70 registered participants from the networks of
HELCOM, CBSS, and a number of other participating organisations, as well as
other stakeholders, will consider past progress and identify priorities for
future regional workJust as the HELCOM GREEN TEAM sub-group in general (c.f. and ), the event is intended as a wide cooperation platform which is
open for public sector institutions and governments, maritime business, as well
as civil society (NGOs) interested in working together to advance sustainable
shipping technology and new fuels in the regionThe regional day is organised at the , the
largest shipping event in Sweden* * Note for editors:HELCOM is an intergovernmental organization made up of the
nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its
primary aims as the governing body of the Helsinki Convention are to protect
the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollutionThis includes pollution from ships and safe maritime
navigation, fields where the work involves regional dimensions of IMO
regulations and initiatives. The full official name of HELCOM is the Baltic
Marine Environment Protection CommissionHELCOM Maritime Working Group of HELCOM identifies and
promotes actions to limit sea-based pollution and finds ways for safer
navigation. Established in 1975, the group also deals with the harmonized
implementation and enforcement of international shipping regulationsThe Maritime group has a number of advisory expert bodies
including the HELCOM-OSPAR Task Group on Ballast Water Management (regional
dimensions of implementing the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention), Expert
group on safety of navigation, Working group for mutual exchange and deliveries
of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, Green technology and Alternative
Fuels Platform for Shipping (GREEN TEAM), and HELCOM Cooperation Platform on
Port Reception Facilities (PRF)* * For more information, please contact:Anna PeterssonGREEN TEAM co-chair
Chair of HELCOM Maritime group
Head of Environment Section
Swedish Transport Agency
Tel: +46 10 4953 249
E-mail: anna.petersson(at)transportstyrelsen.se nita
Mäkinen
GREEN TEAM co-chairChief
Adviser to the Director General, Maritime Sector
Finnish Transport Safety Agency (TraFi)
Tel: +358 40 1624592
E-mail: anita.makinen(at)trafi.f ermanni
BackerProfessional
Secretary for Maritime, Response and FisHELCOTel: +358 46 850919Skype:
helcom0E-mail:
hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi

The first meeting of the HELCOM GREEN TEAM strives to advance sustainable shipping technology and new fuels in the region by considering effective incentives.

A new online risk assessment tool for non-indigenous species transfers via the ballast water of commercial ships has been released jointly by and .The new provides an online application to run the latest version of the risk
assessment method for ballast water introductions in the Baltic and the larger
North-East Atlantic area. It replaces the previous version from July 2014 and
includes several major improvements.Upon submitting information on the species observed in the departure and
destination ports, the website allows national maritime administrations and
ship owners to quickly identify routes that may qualify for exemptions to the
application of ballast water management for ships, and those that are unlikely
to. Interest in such exemptions is growing as the IMO Convention on Ballast
Water Management enters into force in September this year.The underlying risk assessment method was
originally adopted by the 21 member states and EU within OSPAR and HELCOM in
2013. It is as a part of the comprehensive “Joint Harmonised Procedure” on
granting exemptions from ballast water treatment provisions of the 2004
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water
and Sediments () of the International Maritime Organisation ().Based on the IMO (G7) guidelines on granting exemptions under the BWM
Convention and provisions promoting regional cooperation, the joint harmonised
procedure specifies the procedure for granting exemptions (G7) and undertaking
risk assessments.The overall aim is to help protect the environment by identifying routes
that could present a high risk for the transfer of non-indigenous species. It
will also save both the shipping industry and maritime authorities time and
money by bringing transparency and clarity to the decision making process
around exemptions from the provisions of ballast water management.Currently the online tool includes only port sampling data from ports in
Europe. However, the tool and the underlying approach could also be used for
other sea areas in the world.The tool can be found on the address .* * *Note for editors:

The development of the tool is since 2012 supported by the Joint Task Group
on Ballast Water Exemptions (TG BALLAST) consisting of the Contracting Parties
of both Conventions and which is also open to official observer organisation
from both the shipping and environmental fields. TG BALLAST reports to the
HELCOM Maritime Group within HELCOM and OSPAR EIHA Committee within OSPAR.

The Maritime Group of HELCOM (), the parent group of the TG BALLAST within the HELCOM framework, identifies
and promotes actions to limit sea-based pollution and ways for safer navigation
in the Baltic Sea. It also works to ensure enforcement and harmonized
implementation of IMOs international shipping regulations in accordance to the
1992 Helsinki Convention.The OSPAR Environmental Impacts of Humans Activities Committee (EIHA), the
parent group of the TG BALLAST within the OSPAR framework, works to reduce the
impact of human activities in the North East Atlantic.In order to run the risk assessment model the online tool comprises a
database on observations of alien species and physical features in ports, lists
of target alien species for the two regions as well as a risk assessment
algorithm. Live links are provided to several existing scientific databases in
order to provide most recent information on for example the environmental
tolerance of species.* * * For more information, please contact:Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groups HELCOM Tel: +358 46 8509199 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fiMarta RuizAssociate Professional SecretaryHELCOM> +358 40 6472424 >E-mail: marta.ruiz(at)helcom.fi

A new online risk assessment tool for non-indigenous species transfers via the ballast water of commercial ships has been released jointly by HELCOM and OSPAR.

The annual Baltic Sea exercise on pollution response BALEX DELTA 2017 was held off Kaliningrad in the Russian Federation last week. Sixteen ships and three helicopters from five Baltic coastal states formed the HELCOM fleet, simulating a real-time search and rescue operation and an oil spill response. The scenario of the exercise was a fire on an oil production platform, involving a risk of loss of human life as well as a leak of 5,000 tons of crude oil threatening the nearby highly sensitive nature areas. “This amount of crude oil is too big for any Baltic country to combat alone”, said exercise Commander Mr Andrey Khaustov, head of the Marine Rescue Service of Rosmorrechflot, Russian Federation.A large-scale national on-shore exercise was organized simultaneously, rehearsing deployment of the clean-up units and coordination between all the actors involved. Almost 30 persons, some from outside the region, signed up as observers of the exercise.

Vessels working to extinguish the simulated fire on the
platform C-9 “LUKOIL-Kaliningradmorneft” and to cover the fire
fighting tug with water spray. The HELCOM BALEX DELTA 2017 exercise was hosted this year by the Marine Rescue Service of Rosmorrechflot in cooperation with Rosmorport, the Russian state enterprise that promotes safe navigation to Russian seaports. The news material provided by the hosts can be found via the following links (in Russian):BALEX DELTA has been a regular HELCOM practice for almost thirty years. It forms part of the cooperative work for response to pollution incidents in the Baltic Sea, one of the most vulnerable and busiest sea areas in the world. All HELCOM member states take turns in hosting the annual exercise, which is the largest maritime counter-pollution drill of its kind and one of the largest worldwide.The aim of BALEX DELTA is to test the alarm procedures and the response capability of the HELCOM countries. Cooperation between combating units as well as staff functions are tested and rehearsed. The exercise also targets communication between the involved units and all the participating countries, as well as the interaction between offshore response units and shoreline clean-up units. At the same time, thanks to this year’s large onshore response exercise, the national capabilities and alert procedures concerning shoreline clean-up were also tested.BackgroundBalex Delta operational response exercises have been held annually since 1989. Throughout this time HELCOM has steadily improved the readiness of the countries around the Baltic to jointly respond to oil spills at sea. Regional cooperation on preparedness and response to pollution incidents has however much longer roots, being a part of the first 1974 Helsinki Convention and followed by a series of related Recommendations right at the start of the permanent HELCOM activities in the early 1980s. The first meeting of the expert group on pollution response took place in 1977.

Today, with
over 80 per cent of global merchandise trade by volume carried by sea and
handled by ports worldwide,
the economic importance of maritime transport – and the risk of collisions and
other accidents – cannot be overemphasized. In the Baltic Sea, ship traffic is
dense and maritime transport has been in the increase in the recent past.* * *Note to Editors:The Baltic Marine
Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as the Helsinki
Commission, or HELCOM, is an intergovernmental organisation of all the
nine Baltic Sea countries and the EU which works to protect the marine
environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution. HELCOM is
the governing body of the “Convention on the Protection of the Marine
Environment of the Baltic Sea Area,” known as the Helsinki Convention.* * *For more information, please contact:Heli HaapasaariChair of HELCOM Response Working GroupFinnish Environment Institute – SYKETel: +358 40 1793050E-mail: heli.haapasaari(at)environment.fiValtteri LaineProject Manager (OPENRISK)HELCOM+358 40 352 7689E-mail: valtteri.laine(at)helcom.fi
UNCTAD, Review of Maritime Transport 2015.

The annual Baltic Sea exercise on pollution response BALEX DELTA 2017 was held off Kaliningrad in the Russian Federation last week.

​​​ On behalf of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, the HELCOM Secretariat and all the members of the HELCOM family, in particular the Heads of Delegation, we would like to express our heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Leonid Korovin, the Russian Federation representative in HELCOM. This loss is felt very deeply in the HELCOM community, particularly because of Leonid Korovin’s remarkable contribution to HELCOM work and personal dedication to the protection of the Baltic Sea environment. For many years, Leonid Korovin wisely chaired one of the most important HELCOM groups – LAND – which was responsible for mitigation of land based pollution of the Sea. The Saint-Petersburg Public Organization “Ecology and Business” that he headed contributed to various HELCOM activities inside and outside Russia. Another remarkable milestone was the successful international EU-financed BASE project which supported implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan in Russia. The results of the project are actively used for various HELCOM tasks.Thanks to his energy and inspiration the International Forum “Baltic Sea Day” has become one of the most important, long-standing and appreciated environmental events in the region. But most of all, Leonid Korovin was a dear colleague and a true friend, who will be missed by the HELCOM family very much.​HELCOM would also like to express our deep sympathy to his colleagues and family.​

We would like to express our heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Leonid Korovin, the Russian Federation representative in HELCOM.

​The comprehensive HELCOM overview of the state of the Baltic Sea follows up on the status of the Baltic Sea environment, saying that management is improving but that the environmental objectives of the Baltic Sea Action Plan will not be reached in time.The ‘State of the Baltic Sea’ assessment, now made available as a first version for consideration, is an outcome of a large scale collaboration among Baltic Sea countries. It provides a scientific evaluation of the environmental status of the Baltic Sea during 2011-2015, and assesses pressures and impacts from human activities, as well as social and economic dimensions, in the entire Baltic Sea.The summary report, and its underlying material, can be accessed via its . The next step will be to subject it to a regional consultation carried out by HELCOM. The final report will be published by June 2018, and will include one additional year of monitoring data.The assessment is based on an extensive set of materials, including the HELCOM core indicators and Baltic-wide maps, covering aspects such as eutrophication, contamination, marine litter, underwater noise, fishing, hunting, and effects of habitat loss. The assessment of benthic and pelagic habitats, fish, marine mammals, and birds indicate that biodiversity status is inadequate for most assessed species, and that continued efforts to support biodiversity are of key importance.The results are made available for use in analysing progress in relation to the goals of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, namely: to achieve a good environmental status in the Baltic Sea. They will also provide background for negotiations in the next HELCOM Ministerial Meeting to take place on 6 March 2018 in Brussels under the European Union chairmanship of HELCOM.Additionally, the assessment results are available for national consultation in EU Member states, forming a regional umbrella report for reporting under the EU Marine Strategy Framework directive. The assessment can also provide a baseline for future work to reach UN Sustainable Development Goals.The ‘State of the Baltic Sea’ is a regionally coordinated assessment and a major undertaking of all Baltic Sea countries as well as the European Union. The results are the outcome of the committed work of HELCOM experts and national representatives, whom have developed and worked to improve a regionally agreed on monitoring and assessment system, used as a shared knowledge base for developing Baltic Sea environmental management.The results and materials underlying the assessment can be accessed at .* * *Note for editors:The State of the Baltic Sea assessment is carried out by the  (2014–18). The project develops common concepts and methods for the status assessment based on core indicators, creates and tests the tools for aggregated results, and performs assessments at a regional scale. The development of the assessment methods is supported by other projects, including a number of EU-co-financed projects.HELCOM is an intergovernmental organization made up of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its primary aims as a governing body are to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, as well as to ensure safe maritime navigation. The official name of HELCOM is the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission; it is the governing body of the .HELCOM Heads of Delegation, nominated by the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention, which are the nine Baltic coastal states as well as the EU, usually meet twice a year. The highest decision-making body of HELCOM, the Annual Meeting, convenes usually in March. Approximately every three years the Commission meets at .* * *For more information, please contact:Lena BergströmHOLAS II Project CoordinatorHELCOME-mail: lena.bergstrom(at)helcom.fiTel: +358 40 080 3428Jannica HaldinProfessional Secretary for Gear and State and Conservation groupsHELCOME-mail: jannica.haldin(at)helcom.fiTel: +358 40 485 5905​​

The comprehensive HELCOM overview of the state of the Baltic Sea follows up on the status of the Baltic Sea environment, saying that management is improving but that the environmental objectives of the Baltic Sea Action Plan will not be reached in time.

The HELCOM Map and Data Service, which has been serving as one of the largest hubs of spatial data for the Baltic Sea marine environment since 2010, has been completely redesigned and rebuilt. The new system consists of two components, which are seamlessly interlinked:1. : A map viewer user interface for visualizing datasets related to the Baltic Sea, each dataset linked to a metadata record in the new HELCOM Metadata catalogue2. : A searchable catalogue containing a description and lineage of each map made available by HELCOM, enabling user to find and download spatial data, and linking to HELCOM Map and Data Service for viewing the specific datasetCompared to the previous version of HELCOM Map and Data Service, the new version provides the following key improvements:Searchable table of contents in the map viewer user interfaceFaster and more user-friendly map viewer, thanks to a more light-weight user interface which can run on any hardware platform (PC, Mac)Searchable metadata repository and keywords for filtering datasets in the metadata catalogueINSPIRE compliant metadata record for each datasetWith the current set of spatial data collected for assessments, HELCOM provides free access to more than 600 map layers in total, with maps ranging from biodiversity and species distribution to information on maritime traffic. The amount of available map layers will grow in the very near future, once the data used for the 2017 version of the State of the Baltic Sea report is published.  ***Note for editorsHELCOM is an intergovernmental organization made up of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its primary aims as a governing body are to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, as well as to ensure safe maritime navigation. The official name of HELCOM is the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission; it is the governing body of the .***For more information, please contact:Joni KaitarantaData coordinatorHELCOMTel: +358 46 850 9206Skype: helcom37E-mail: joni.kaitaranta(at)helcom.fi​

The HELCOM Map and Data service, which has been serving as one of the largest hubs of spatial data for the Baltic Sea marine environment since 2010, has been completely redesigned and rebuilt.

The First version of the HELCOM State of the Baltic Sea report – June 2017 was approved by the 52nd Meeting of the HELCOM Heads of Delegation held on 20-21 June 2017 in Brussels. The 52nd Meeting of the HELCOM Heads of Delegation was hosted by the European Union in Palais d’Egmont, Brussels.The ‘State of the Baltic Sea’ report provides a scientific evaluation of the environmental status of the Baltic Sea during 2011-2015 from a holistic perspective. Pressures and impacts from human activities, as well as social and economic dimensions in the whole Baltic Sea are also assessed. The first results of the status report including the underlying data will be published on a dedicated website in a few weeks’ time. The results will be subject to a regional consultation to be carried out in 2017 by HELCOM. The report will be updated and finalized by June 2018, and the final report will include one additional year of monitoring data.The ‘State of the Baltic Sea’ is a regionally coordinated assessment and a major undertaking of all Baltic Sea countries as well as the European Union, the ten HELCOM members. The assessment will be used to analyse the progress for achieving good environmental status in relation to the goals of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.The results will provide background for negotiations in the next HELCOM Ministerial Meeting to take place on 6 March 2018 in Brussels under the European Union chairmanship of HELCOM. The HELCOM Heads of Delegation meeting continued preparations for the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting, which will aim at strengthening the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan until 2021, and to embark on the process of updating the Action Plan until 2030, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.The Heads of Delegation also agreed on the final steps needed to publish the HELCOM Maritime Assessment 2017. The comprehensive publication and the underlying datasets, covering maritime transportation but also other topics such as fisheries, aquaculture, and off shore wind energy, will be released early in the autumn.Another important decision by the Heads of Delegation was to approve the publication of the HELCOM core indicator of input of nutrients to the sea, the first product of the sixth HELCOM Pollution Load Compilation project (PLC-6) launched in 2013. HELCOM data on air- and waterborne inputs of nutrients cover the period from 1995 to 2014. The latest assessment revealed substantial progress towards fulfilling the target of maximum allowable input values identified by HELCOM. In the last three-year assessment (2012-2014) the average normalized input of nitrogen was reduced by 13% and phosphorus by 19% compared with the reference period (1997-2003). The input of nitrogen was below the maximum allowable input (MAI) in the Kattegat, Danish Straits and Bothnian Sea, while for phosphorus MAI was fulfilled in the Kattegat only. The indicator and assessment dataset will be published within a week on the .The Meeting was chaired by HELCOM Chair Ms Marianne Wenning, DG Environment, European Union., where all HOD 52-2017 meeting documents can be found.************Note for editorsThe State of the Baltic Sea assessment is worked on by the (2014–18), which develops common concepts and methods for the status assessment based on core indicators, creates and tests the tools for aggregated results and, finally, performs assessments at a regional scale. The development of the assessment methods is supported by other projects, including a number of EU-co-financed projects.HELCOM is an intergovernmental organization made up of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its primary aims as a governing body are to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, as well as to ensure safe maritime navigation. The official name of HELCOM is the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission; it is the governing body of the .HELCOM Heads of Delegation, nominated by the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention, which are the nine Baltic coastal states as well as the EU, usually meet twice a year. The highest decision-making body of HELCOM, Annual Meeting, convenes usually in March. Approximately every three years the Commission meets at . For more information, please contact:Lena Bergström HOLAS II Project CoordinatorHELCOMlena.bergstrom(at)helcom.fiTel: +358 40 080 3428Skype: helcom71

The First version of the HELCOM State of the Baltic Sea report – June 2017 was approved by the 52nd Meeting of the HELCOM Heads of Delegation held on 20-21 June 2017 in Brussels.

HELCOM-led OpenRisk project presents first results and gathers views on risk assessment methods for spill prevention, preparedness and response purposes at first workshop in Helsinki 13-14 JuneRepresentatives of response cooperation in the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), North-west Pacific (MERRAC) and North Sea (BONN Agreement) attended to launch cooperation across regionsNext steps include project workshops to be hosted by Lisbon Agreement (SW Europe, 12 October) and REMPEC (2018).Available tools and practices for risk assessments to optimize response to spills in the Baltic Sea, but also other similar regions worldwide, were considered at a dedicated two-day HELCOM workshop organized last week in Helsinki (13-14 June). The workshop collected the views of national authorities and experts on risk assessments to form the basis for the work within the HELCOM-led OpenRisk project during 2017-2018.The project, risk assessments and cooperation with other regions were also followed up during the 23rd meeting of the HELCOM Response Working Group, gathering the national spill response organizations in Baltic Sea the region and taking place back-to-back to the workshop (14-16 June).Risk assessments – systematic identification and analysis of risks – are helpful in scoping the adequacy of existing response capacity as well as for proposing measures to reduce the likelihood of spills. They can also be used to monitor the development of risks over time.In order to use the full potential of risk assessments in response related work, new methods are needed. The OpenRisk project, led by HELCOM, will take the first step in developing a toolbox of joint and open methods for response optimized risk assessments and to follow developments in related risk over time. .As similar needs have been identified in other regions of the world, the work will be carried out in cooperation with HELCOM’s sister organizations. For this purpose the workshop gathered representatives of REMPEC (Mediterranean Sea), MERRAC (NW Pacific) and BONN Agreement (North Sea).Recent regional risk assessments include for example HELCOM BRISK and BRISK-RU in the Baltic Sea (2009-2012), BONN BE-AWARE I and II in the greater North Sea (2012-2016) as well as REMPEC MEDESS-4MS in the Mediterranean (2012-2015).Inter-regional cooperation on risk assessments has already some history as BONN Agreement utilized the same methodology that was developed for the last HELCOM risk assessment project “BRISK” in its recently finalised BE AWARE initiative. According to a presentation by representatives of MERRAC, BRISK was also an important inspiration to ongoing activities in the northwest pacific region. Risk assessments have also been discussed at the inter-secretariat meetings convened annually by EMSA.OpenRisk is the latest development in this cooperation and will provide an opportunity for HELCOM and its sister organizations to consider best practices for response related risk assessments at a series of four project workshops: Helsinki (June 2017), Lisbon (October 2017, hosted by Lisbon Agreement), Malta (Spring-Summer 2018) as well as a final event during autumn 2018.Information on the OpenRisk is available from the project website: .The outcome of the RESPONSE 23-2017 is available .* * *Note for editorsHELCOM is an intergovernmental organization made up of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its primary aims as a governing body are to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, as well as to ensure safe maritime navigation. The official name of HELCOM is the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission; it is the governing body of the Helsinki Convention.The HELCOM Response Working Group works to ensure swift national and international responses to maritime pollution incidents, including in case of accident the availability of appropriate equipment and the joint practice of response procedures in cooperation with neighbouring states. The group also coordinates the aerial surveillance of maritime shipping routes to detect oil spills and other potentially harmful.OpenRisk is a two-year project linked to the Response Working Group focussed on developing risk assessment methods for accidental maritime spills, co-financed by the European Commission DG ECHO (Civil Protection Financial Instrument, project ECHO/SUB/2016/740178/PREV26).* * * For more information, please contact:Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groups HELCOM Tel: +358 46 8509199 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fiValtteri LaineOpenRisk Project ManagerTel: +358 40 3527689E-mail: valtteri.laine@helcom.fi 

HELCOM-led OpenRisk project presents first results and gathers views on risk assessment methods for spill prevention, preparedness and response purposes at first workshop in Helsinki 13-14 June.

Statement by Monika Stankiewicz, HELCOM Executive Secretary at the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, Plenary meeting 9 June 2017, New York Mr President, Excellencies, distinguished participants, All seas and oceans in the world are important. However for us, people living on the shores of the Baltic Sea, this small sea in the northern Europe is the most important one. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, or HELCOM, works to achieve a healthy marine environment and ensure the sustainable use of its resources, based on a regional convention. HELCOM has enjoyed continuous support of its Contracting Parties for over four decades. These Contracting Parties are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and European Union. Monika Stankiewicz, HELCOM Executive Secretary gave the HELCOM statement at the Ocean Conference Plenary meeting 9 June 2017, New York Regional cooperation in the Baltic Sea has led to recent successes in setting up a nutrient reduction scheme, curbing airborne emission and discharges from shipping, tackling some hazardous substances, piloting ecosystem approach in maritime spatial planning, and covering 12% of the Baltic Sea with marine protected areas. All these examples showcase the added value of a regional approach, addressing more than one target of Sustainable Development Goal 14 in a coherent way. Policy making based on commonly agreed principles and best available science, paired with a transparent and participatory stakeholder involvement, as well as partnerships for integrated management of human activities, are seen by the Contracting Parties as factors underlying these HELCOM achievements. Despite many efforts and significant progress, status of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea is still of a great concern. HELCOM members have pledged for this Conference a commitment to strengthen the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan to support ocean-related Sustainable Development Goals. The Baltic Sea Action Plan is an ambitious programme to restore the good ecological status of the marine environment by 2021, adopted in HELCOM in 2007. For instance, this commitment includes: speeding up the implementation of the marine litter regional action plan, continuing the battle against eutrophication and planning towards the elaboration of a regional action plan on underwater noise, to fulfil SDG 14.1, ensuring close cooperation on any maritime spatial planning in the Baltic Sea area and management plans for all marine protected areas, to fulfil SDG 14.2 and 14.5, supporting sustainable agricultural practices, to contribute to SDG 2.4, and ecosystem-related fishery measures, towards SDG 14.4 and 14.6. More generally, HELCOM will strive for more resilient marine ecosystems to be better prepared for human-induced climate change challenges. It will also promote further regional development of social and economic analyses to create tailor-made connecting points between implementation of different Sustainable Development Goals. For years, HELCOM has developed regional indicators and assessments to measure the environmental status of the Baltic Sea, which can also be used for the future regional work on the implementation of the SDGs. HELCOM has also committed to identify Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSA) in the Baltic Sea under the Convention on Biological Diversity. This process will contribute to fulfilling the regional goal of drawing up and applying maritime spatial plans throughout the Baltic Sea region which are coherent across borders and apply the ecosystem approach. Last but not least, Contracting Parties have committed to cutting 80% of NOx emissions from ships operating in the Baltic Sea in order to combat the problem of eutrophication in the region. The reduction will be achieved by the designation of the Baltic Sea as a NOx Emission Control Area under MARPOL in the International Maritime Organization. HELCOM together with its partners will promote the green shipping technology and use of alternative fuels to further reduce harmful exhaust gas emissions and greenhouse gases from ships. Follow-up on the implementation will be an important part of efforts to reach SDG 14. HELCOM will have a possibility to do so at our Ministerial Meeting already next year. I thank you.​* * *Note for editorsHELCOM is an
intergovernmental organization made up of the nine Baltic Sea coastal
countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its primary aims as
the governing body of the Helsinki Convention are to protect the marine
environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution. The United Nations “Our oceans,
our future: partnering for the implementation of Sustainable Development
Goal 14”, is held on 5-9 June 2017 in New York (2017 SDG 14
Conference), co-chaired and co-funded by Sweden and Fiji. * * *For more information, please contact:Monika Stankiewicz Executive Secretary HELCOM +358 40 840 2471 Email: monika.stankiewicz(at)helcom.fi Skype: helcom17

Statement by Monika Stankiewicz, HELCOM Executive Secretary at the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14