Author: Eeva Nyyssönen

​​​​The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission () and the Cruise Lines International Association () have jointly held a on the cruise industry and the Baltic Sea. Organised in the framework of the, which is being celebrated in Turku, Finland this week, the workshop on “Effective solutions for responsible growth” has given participants a chance to discuss a range of issues regarding the cruise industry’s present and future in the Baltic.Moderated by Hermanni Backer, HELCOM, the workshop speakers included Tom Strang, Carnival Corp.; Anna Petersson, Swedish Transport Agency; Kirsti Tarnanen-Sariola, European Sea Ports Organisation; and Pauli Merriman, WWF Ecoregion Programme. Together they have discussed a range of relevant topics, such as the industry’s economic impact in the Baltic countries, state-of-the art developments in the cruise industry, and the potential for maritime stakeholders’ cooperation for responsible growth.Together with the audience, the speakers have also discussed some of the challenges that the industry faces, particularly in terms of sustainability and environmental protection, focusing on issues such as ships’ air emissions abatement and wastewater treatment and discharges. They provided suggestions to remove bottlenecks for a prosperous future of cruising and a sustainable maritime economy in the Baltic.Particularly on the topic of wastewater discharges, the International Maritime Organization has recently designated the Baltic Sea as a Special Area under MARPOL Annex IV, banning passenger ships from discharging sewage offshore from 2019/2021. The discussion focused on the practicalities of its implementation, particularly the need to expand and improve the region’s network of port reception facilities in order to make sure that cruise ships will be able to discharge their sewage while at berth.”Sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region is a common goal and regional collaboration is vital,” said Anna Petersson, Head of Environment Section at Swedish Transport Agency and the Chair of HELCOM Maritime Group. “It is important to investigate possibilities and incentives for voluntary application prior and beyond regulations.””All stakeholders should work together in order to find pragmatic, workable solutions that help ensure the Baltic Sea’s sustainability and also the cruise industry’s future in the region for years to come,” said Tom Strang, SVP Maritime Affairs at Carnival Corp. and & Chair of CLIA Europe’s Environment, Safety and Security Subcommittee. “There is an urgent need to balance economic and environmental policies so that they complement each other, rather than get in each other’s way.” * * * Notes for editors About HELCOMHELCOM (Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – Helsinki Commission) is the governing body of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, known as the Helsinki Convention. The Contracting Parties are Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. HELCOM was established four decades ago to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental cooperation. HELCOM’s vision for the future is a healthy Baltic Sea environment with diverse biological components functioning in balance, resulting in a good ecological status and supporting a wide range of sustainable economic and social activities. For more information, visit and follow HELCOM and pages bout CLIA Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. As the largest cruise industry trade association with 15 offices globally, CLIA has representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA’s mission is to support policies and practices that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment for the more than 23 million passengers who cruise annually, as well as to promote the value, desirability and affordability of the cruise vacation experience. Members are comprised of the world’s most prestigious ocean, river and specialty cruise lines; a highly trained and certified travel agent community; and cruise line suppliers and partners, including ports & destinations, ship development, suppliers and business services, committed to the sustained success of the cruise industry. For more information, visit or follow Cruise Lines International Association on CLIA and pages * * * For more information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi Diego Llorens Echegaray ADVISOR | COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRSCruise Lines International Association (CLIA) EuropeRue Montoyer 40 | Brussels 1000Tel. +32 488 889 153​E-mail: g​​

Cruise industry stakeholders discuss effective solutions for responsible growth in the framework of the Eu-ropean Maritime Day.

​​​​High level politicians and professionals on Baltic environmental policy will debate next week about strategic directions for future HELCOM cooperation in protecting the Baltic Sea. The seats are limited so please and ensure your place in the unique session—usually HELCOM high level sessions are not open to all public. The session on
18 May 2016 at 13-15 in Turku, Finland will also be streamed live and can be watched via the . The participants from the Baltic sea countries and EU, including the European Commissioner Karmenu Vella and Minister of the Environment of Finland Kimmo Tiilikainen, are invited to discuss about how to protect the marine environment while enabling sustainable use and blue economy. They are expected to present the best cases of successful cross-sectoral cooperation that benefit the marine environment and bring up new ideas for improving the governance of the seas. Efforts are already underway both at HELCOM and elsewhere to reach out to sectors and jointly discuss possible solutions and measures for marine environmental protection. Some attempts are more successful than others; one reason is the mismatch of scales. The regional level is the most suitable scale to address marine environment problems in the Baltic Sea due to special characteristics of the sea and transboundary effects. This, however, does not necessarily hold true for sectoral policies. The role of the Regional Seas Conventions in marine governance has been a successful one in many regions of the globe, as they engage neighbouring countries in specific actions to protect their shared marine environment. A healthy marine environment underpins sustainable blue growth. An important part of the debate, attended also by HELCOM Chair, will be looking into the future, as the session will initiate a series of high level gatherings prior to the next HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in 2018.    * * * Note for editors​The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention.  * * * For more information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

New inspiration for the Baltic Sea environmental cooperation sought after in Ministerial session on 18 May-

What

HELCOM: How to protect the marine environment while enabling sustainable use and blue economy.

Who

Some confirmed participants:

• Mr. Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries, European Commission
• Mr. Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister of Agriculture and the Environment of Finland
• Mr. Harry Liiv, HELCOM Chair, Ministry of the Environment of Estonia
• Mr. Jan Olsson, Environment Ambassador, Ministry of the Environment and Energy/Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
• Ms. Heike Imhoff, Head of Unit responsible for marine environmental protection and international sea law, German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety

When

Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Time: 13:00–15:00
Time reserved for media: 14:50–15:00

Where

Auditorium MOVE 2, Logomo, Köydenpunojankatu 14, Turku, Finland

Why

The key aim of the session is to discuss strategic directions for future HELCOM cooperation in protecting the Baltic Sea. Topics include:

• Exploring successful cross-sectoral cooperation that benefits the marine environment.
• Proposing new ideas to improve governance of the seas, particularly through regional cooperation.

Efforts are underway both at HELCOM and in other forums to engage sectors and jointly discuss solutions for marine environmental protection. While some attempts have been successful, challenges arise due to mismatched scales of governance. Interestingly, one recent discussion highlighted unexpected parallels between environmental regulation and industries like online gaming, where practices such as ohne Pause an Spielautomaten spielen have sparked debates over responsible management and sustainability. The need to balance user demand with regulatory frameworks mirrors the challenges faced in coordinating policies for the Baltic Sea. The regional level is often the most suitable scale to address marine environment issues in the Baltic Sea because of its unique characteristics and transboundary effects. However, this is not always compatible with sectoral policies, making cooperation across industries and governments essential for progress.

A healthy marine environment supports sustainable blue growth. Participants will provide insights into future opportunities across sectors while promoting the general well-being of the region. This session will also initiate a series of high-level gatherings leading up to the next HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in 2018.

Media Access

Media representatives are invited to join during the reserved time at 14:50–15:00.
To access the premises, contact:

• Johanna Laurila, HELCOM Information Secretary
  • Email: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi
  • Tel: +358 40 523 8988
  • Deadline: 13 May, noon

About HELCOM

HELCOM (the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission) is an intergovernmental organization consisting of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its primary objectives are:

1. Protecting the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution.
2. Ensuring safe maritime navigation.

HELCOM operates as the governing body of the Helsinki Convention.

Contact Information

For more details or interview inquiries, please contact:

• Johanna Laurila, Information Secretary, HELCOM
  • Tel: +358 40 523 8988
  • Skype: helcom70
  • Email: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

​​​This week is all about fish in the Baltic Sea as three HELCOM meetings dealing with sustainable fisheries are held back-to-back in Gothenburg, Sweden. Key topics for HELCOM professionals gathering this week include migratory fish species, indicators, as well as the follow up of the recent HELCOM Recommendation on aquaculture. HELCOM has worked for years for healthy Baltic Sea as important parts of the ecosystem, weakened by unsustainable fishing as well as pollution including eutrophication-induced oxygen depletion and high levels of hazardous substances. Baltic herring. Photo: Riku Lumiaro/SYKE.On Monday, the nominated Task Force will prioritize HELCOM tasks for the next two years in the field of migratory fish such as salmon, sea trout and eel.  The following day’s HELCOM workshop on fish indicators focuses on the goals related to fish in the Baltic. More specifically, the participants will weigh in on the interaction between goals rooted in environmental policy – HELCOM indicators – and those derived from fisheries policy of the European Union. On Wednesday and Thursday, HELCOM discusses, e.g., the ways to start implementing the HELCOM Recommendation on sustainable aquaculture, which was adopted in March. Work has started on creating a suitable set of Best Available Technology / Best Environmental Practices descriptions. The group will also work on solutions to improve the information exchange between HELCOM and other Baltic Sea regional organizations active in the field of fish, fisheries, and aquaculture. Data collection on fish, such as the availability of information on incidental catches, will also be addressed at the Fish group meeting. All documents will be available after the meetings:Second Meeting of the HELCOM Task Force on migratory fish species (), 9 May 2016. The Meeting will elect a chair for itself.HELCOM workshop on fish indicators (), 10 May 2016. Moderated by Ulrika Gunnartz, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SWAM). 4th Meeting of the Group on Ecosystem-based Sustainable Fisheries (), 11-12 May 2016. Meeting will be chaired by Mr. Marcin Rucinski, Chair of the group.  * * * Note for editors: deals with the implementation of the ecosystem-based approach in fisheries and considers how the sector could help reach Good Environmental Status in the Baltic Sea by 2021. The group involves representatives from fisheries and environmental authorities of the Baltic Sea countries, as well as EU, and HELCOM Observers and others as appropriate. Its official name is the HELCOM Group on Ecosystem-based Sustainable Fisheries.  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 BackerProfessional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groupsHELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199Skype: helcom02E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

This week is all about fish in the Baltic Sea as three HELCOM meetings dealing with sustainable fisheries are held back-to-back in Gothenburg, Sweden.

​​​​​​​​​​HELCOM active at European Maritime Day 18-19 May 2016 in turku, Finland HELCOM and the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) will host a on effective solutions for responsible growth in cruising on 18 May at the in Turku, Finland. Registration to the workshop is ! >> >The workshop will present state-of-the-art developments in the cruise industry and discuss the potential for maritime stakeholders’ cooperation in responsible growth. The cruise industry has a proven record of adding significant economic value to Europe. Only by acting together, the potential of blue economy can be unlocked. The participants and speakers will together discuss challenges and concrete suggestions to remove bottlenecks for a prosperous future of cruising and a sustainable maritime economy. >>>The session runs from 9:00 to 10:30 and will be moderated by Hermanni Backer, Professional Secretary at HELCOM. Speaking will be:>Tom Strang (Senior Vice President, Maritime Affairs at CARNIVAL CORP. & PLC and Chair of the CLIA Europe Environment, Safety and Security Subcommittee),Anna Petersson (Head of environment section, Swedish Transport Agency) ,Kirsti Tarnanen-Sariola (Deputy Director, Finnish Port Association and European Sea Ports Organisation; TBC), andPauli Merriman (Director, WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme).>The brief outcome of the workshop will be made available soon afterwards. HELCOM has long worked on issues related to cruising in the Baltic Sea, with a last month with the IMO decision to bring the region into special sewage area status by 2021.  HELCOM elsewhere at European Maritime Day Coinciding with this year’s European Maritime Day (EMD), HELCOM is also organizing the on 18 May at 13:00-15:00. As a part of the official EMD programme HELCOM is co-organizing the session on with the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS). Further, HELCOM’s Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz will speak on 19 May at 08:30-10:30 at the session on . There will also be a under the theme of maritime spatial planning at the Networking Village. Interested parties may register to European Maritime Day . Please note that some workshops, such as , require separate registration. ​​​* * * Note for editorsThe Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * * For more information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

Register soon to the workshop on effective solutions for responsible growth in cruising on 18 May at the 9th European Maritime Day in Turku, Finland.

​​​​​​WORKSHOP ON THE ROADMAP FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DESIGNATION OF BALTIC SEA AND THE NORTH SEA NECAS  24-25 May 2016, St. Petersburg, Russia​HELCOM and North Sea countries have decided to apply in parallel for a NECA status for both the Baltic Sea and North Sea areas from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). When enforced, the Emission Control Areas (ECA) for Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), will considerably limit the ​polluting emissions from ships. style=”max-width:100%;”>The major basis for the workshop is the revised  for the Baltic Sea and the North Sea NECAs, which was agreed on at the last HELCOM Annual Meeting on 10 March 2016. style=”max-width:100%;”> style=”max-width:100%;”>To assist the parallel application, the responsible authority in the Russian Federation is organizing a workshop for stakeholders, including governance bodies and administrators as well as technology developers, ship owners and port authorities. style=”max-width:100%;”>If you are interested in registering to the workshop please use the following contacts: Ms Natalia Kutaeva, Councellor to the Director, Marine Rescue Service of Rosmorrechflot (MRS)>- morMr. Victoria Gunchenko
–  style=”max-width:100%;”> style=”max-width:100%;”>Draft programme will be released soon. style=”max-width:100%;”> style=”max-width:100%;”TOPICS OF THE WORKSHOPThe first day of the workshop will focus on the requirements of the MARPOL Convention on NOx emissions from ships, and the procedures of designation of the emission control areas. Invited speakers will share the latest information on the technologies of the Tier III NOx emission standards, including availability, efficiency and equipment particularities. style=”max-width:100%;”> style=”max-width:100%;”>The second part is aimed at national administrations. Topics will cover experiences of the North American ECAs, benefits of synchronized Baltic Sea and North Sea NECA designation, and also the rationale and status of the IMO application for both Baltic Sea and North Sea NECAs. style=”max-width:100%;”>​

The workshop on 24-25 May in St. Petersburg, Russia, will prepare HELCOM and North Sea countries to apply, as decided, in parallel for a NECA status from IMO.

​​​Half of detections substance other than oil The number of oil spills in the Baltic Sea detected through daily aerial surveillance reached an ​​all-time low again in 2015. According to the annual now available, also the size of spills spotted in the region continue to decline following long-term trends. Striking is that half (49%) of all spill detections were identified as substances other than oil or as unknown observations—highlighting the ongoing need to track various kinds of spills. Nonoil-based discharges, which only have been reported to HELCOM since 2014, are not as strictly regulated as oil in the Baltic Sea and may cause threats to the marine environment. Collecting data on the frequency, size and nature of such spills is essential to understanding the environmental impacts of different kinds of substances on the Baltic Sea.  According to the HELCOM report, a total of 82 mineral oil spills were identified in the Baltic Sea by air in 2015, with the overwhelming majority (98%) limited to an area of one cubic metre (1 m3) or less. Almost three-quarters (78%) were smaller than 100 litres or 0.1 m3.The total flight time dedicated to spill detection by the HELCOM member countries has dropped in recent years with an average of around 4,000 hours per year being logged in 2014 and 2015. This is a significant fall from the 10-year average of over 4,500 flight hours a year—a fact that may play a factor in the decreasing number of detections made. Regional aerial continues to be vital to detecting oil spills and other potentially harmful substances released into the Baltic Sea. It also acts as a deterrent to ships, thus preventing violations to regulations on ship pollution. When a spill is discovered, if possible, the identity of a polluter is established and the spill is sampled from both the sea surface and on-board the suspected offending ship to enable prosecution.In addition to regular, nationally led flights, high-intensity operations are organized on a yearly basis to bolster compliance levels to anti-pollution regulations. During such operations a selected area is continuously surveyed together by a number of countries up to several days. * *Note for editors:Cooperation between Baltic coastal countries on spill-related dates back to the 1980s as a result of HELCOM efforts to protect the marine environment. Data on ship spills identified by aerial surveillance is reported on a yearly basis by most HELCOM member states; the current HELCOM annual report covers data conducted with fixed-wing aircraft from 1988 to 2015. The purpose of aerial surveillance is to detect spills of oil and other harmful substances which can threaten the marine environment. If possible, the identity of a polluter should be established and a spill sampled from both the sea surface and the suspected offender on board.Data on illegal discharges observed during national aerial surveillance activities of the coastal states in the Baltic Sea area are compiled by HELCOM every year.Co-operation on aerial surveillance within the Baltic Sea area has been established within the framework of the Helsinki Convention and coordinated by the Informal Working Group on Aerial Surveillance (). This requires the Contracting Parties to conduct regular surveillance outside their coastlines and to develop and apply, individually or in cooperation, surveillance activities covering the Baltic Sea area in order to spot and monitor oil and other substances released into the sea. Contracting Parties are also supposed to coordinate surveillance activities which take place outside territorial waters. * * *Working to safeguard the marine environment from pollution and ensure safe navigation in the Baltic Sea, acts as the governing body of the 1974 Helsinki Convention. Its official name is the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission. ​* * * For more information, please contact:Laura Meski Assistant Professional Secretary HELCOM +358 40 162 2053 Skype: helcom82 E-mail: laura.meski(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​​

Striking is that half (49%) of all spill detections were identified as substances other than oil or as unknown observations—highlighting the ongoing need to track various kinds of spills.

​​​​​A major milestone reached through HELCOM cooperation The International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed this week that the Baltic Sea special area for sewage discharges from passenger ships under Annex IV or the MARPOL Convention will take effect by latest 2021 for IMO registered passenger vessels. However, in certain cases of direct passages between St. Petersburg area and the North Sea there is a two-year extension to the deadline, until 2023.The decision means that by 2021 all IMO registered passenger vessels sailing in the Baltic Sea, as the first region in the world, must discharge all sewage at port reception facilities (PRFs), or treat it with an on-board treatment plant certified to meet stringent special area requirements. For new ships built on or later than 2019, these requirements will apply earlier.The significant outcome concludes the long HELCOM aiming to limit sewage discharges in the Baltic Sea from passenger vessels, as the emissions have negative impact on the marine environment.The decision was made during the meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) ending today in London.The proposal to designate the Baltic Sea as a special area for sewage within MARPOL Annex IV was developed by the HELCOM Maritime Working Group, which is made up of maritime administrations of the Baltic Sea coastal countries and the EU. This proposal was submitted to IMO MEPC by the coastal countries in 2010, following a decision by the 2007 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in Cracow, Poland.Based on the submission the Baltic Sea was designated by IMO as a special area for sewage in 2011. However, according to the IMO decision this status would only take effect once the coastal countries informed IMO that adequate Port Reception Facilities are available in the region. By the IMO meeting this week, all Baltic coastal countries had sent confirmation of adequate reception facilities in Baltic ports, as a result of substantial work on port reception facilities for sewage and their use in the Baltic Sea area by national administrations, ports and the passenger ship industry.In order to document overall on sewage PRFs and their use in the region during recent years, an was published by HELCOM in early 2015.Upcoming events where related issues will be discussed include a joint by HELCOM and CLIA on 18 May during the EU Maritime Day 2016 in Turku, Finland, and the International Workshop on Port Reception Facilities for the Baltic Sea as Special Area according to MARPOL Annex IV by Germany and BPO on 30 June – 1 July in Kiel, Germany. BackgroundThe momentum to submit a proposal to designate the Baltic Sea as a sewage special area comes from the fact that standards for, and implementation of, sewage treatment on the shore in the Baltic Sea region have been tightened considerably during the last decades—with stringent requirements applied today not only to cities but also to smaller municipalities and in some countries even leisure boats. The Nitrogen and Phosphorus contained in ship sewage aggravate the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea.From the perspective of the Baltic Sea, this week’s decision in London is a major milestone in more than 35 years of work to improve facilities and reduce sewage emissions from ships in the region. Already at the first meeting of the Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, in 1980, the coastal countries adopted regional Recommendations targeting sewage from passenger ships, concerning both port reception as well as on-board treatment plants.[1] The process has seen several rounds of negotiations and milestones as part of HELCOM Ministerial Meetings, such as the Baltic Sea PRF strategy of 1996 and the 2010 list of priority ports for sewage PRF upgrades. Very importantly, since Convention revision in 1992 these negotiations have included in addition to national administrations also the shipping industry as well as ports. * * *Note for editorsHELCOM Maritime Working 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 regulations. The Maritime group includes the HELCOM-OSPAR on Ballast Water Management (regional dimensions of implementing the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention), Expert on Safety of Navigation, Working for Mutual Exchange and Deliveries of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, and HELCOM Cooperation on Port Reception Facilities (PRF).  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:Anna Petersson Chair of HELCOM Maritime group Head of Environment Section Swedish Transport Agency Tel: +46 10 4953 249 E-mail: anna.petersson(at)transportstyrelsen.se Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groups HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 8509199 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi​[1] See e.g. HELCOM Recommendation 1/5 (adopted 5 May 1980): “Recommendation concerning the application by the Baltic Sea states of guidelines for type testing and approval of sewage treatment systems”.​

The agreement, reached through HELCOM cooperation, will take effect by latest 2021 for IMO registered passenger vessels.

Baltic LINes project kicks off, improves cross-border maritime spatial planning​​​Increasing the access, compatibility and dissemination of high-quality data on linear infrastructure, particularly on shipping and offshore energy, are key areas falling under HELCOM’s responsibility in a new project, Baltic LINes. The project officially started this week in Berlin, Germany, with Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) of Germany as the lead partner.The kick-off meeting on Baltic LINes was held in Berlin, Germany. ​Through Baltic LINes, HELCOM will work together with Aalborg University, and with input from the Finnish Environment Institute and Netherlands University of Applied Sciences, to create an infrastructure for regional data exchange. The project will establish a community to foster links between national and regional GIS data sources. The activities will be carried out in phases until final completion in early 2019.  The overall aim of the project is to develop the most appropriate framework conditions for industrial and other activities at or by the sea—for example, maritime transportation, offshore energy exploitation and linear infrastructures—for the next 10 to 15 years.  * * *Note for editors:Since 2010, HELCOM and Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea () have jointly led a Maritime Spatial Planning Working which works to ensure regional coherence of activities related to maritime spatial planning. The group is also in charge of Horizontal Action Spatial Planning within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The Baltic LINes project—officially named Coherent Linear Infrastructures in Baltic Maritime Spatial Plans—will support the work of the expert data established under the HELCOM-VASAB MSP group. Baltic LINes involves the following project partners:Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Germany – lead partnerBaltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – HELCOMState Regional Development Agency (VASAB Secretariat), LatviaMinistry of Energy, Infrastructure and State Development, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, GermanySwedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, SwedenMaritime Office in Gdynia, PolandMaritime Institute in Gdansk, PolandPolish Offshore Wind Energy Society, PolandCoastal Research and Planning Institute, LithuaniaMinistry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, LatviaUniversity of Tartu, EstoniaUniversity of Aalborg, DenmarkFinnish Environment Institute, FinlandFinnish Transport Agency, FinlandNHTV University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands * * * 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 BackerProfessional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Fish groupsHELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199Skype: helcom02E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

Baltic LINes project kicks off with the aim of improving cross-border maritime spatial planning, with specific concern on linear infrastructure such as shipping and offshore energy.

​​​​​​​Recycling nutrients from sewage sludge, the Krasny Bor hazardous waste landfill and HELCOM nutrient reduction have been key topics for HELCOM members gathering this week at the Pressure Group’s meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden. The meeting marks an important step in the ongoing HELCOM process of nutrient reduction in the Baltic Sea, with assessment methodologies, data collection procedures and planned products on the agenda.HELCOM Pressure group has its main focus on nutrient and hazardous substance inputs from land. Photo: Metsähallitus NHS/Lari Järvinen.Also receiving attention at the Pressure Group’s meeting is the draft HELCOM Recommendation on sewage . The upcoming Recommendation will offer ways to more efficiently recycle nutrients contained by sewage sludge, in particular phosphorus, and utilize its energetic potential while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. As such, it will contribute to HELCOM’s work on nutrient input reduction as well as to broader efforts, such as the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy. In treating waste waters, the countries in the Baltic Sea watershed generate about 3.5 million tonnes of dry solids annually and this is only expected to increase—making environmentally sustainable management vital. Things are moving ahead at the Krasny Bor hazardous waste landfill located outside St. Petersburg. An update was given at the meeting by the Russian delegation on the state of the site, as recent concerns have been raised regarding increased environmental threats caused by extreme weather conditions at the beginning of this year. The landfill has been listed since the early 1990s on HELCOM’s list of . According to HELCOM , Krasny Bor has a significant and harmful impact on the environment and that the situation is still deteriorating.At the Pressure Group’s meeting, the delegation from St. Petersburg also provided information on possible urgent measures to be undertaken to clean up the Hot Spot. In addition, a call was also presented for international cooperation in the efforts, including a study visit and financing opportunities.In addition, the first-ever regional assessment of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the Baltic Sea environment is also under discussion this week. The status report is being prepared together with the HELCOM State and Conservation Group and is set for release later this year.This week’s meeting, hosted by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, is the fourth gathering of the HELCOM Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area (PRESSURE 4-2016). . All documents will be public after the meeting. * * * Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention.The HELCOM works on issues related to nutrient and hazardous substance inputs from diffuse sources and point sources on land, including HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme implementation. The group ensures that necessary technical requirements are in place and develops solutions for policy-relevant questions and needs. Marine litter and underwater noise issues are also coordinated by the group. * * * For more information, please contact:Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

Krasny Bor hazardous waste landfill has been another key topic in the HELCOM Pressure Group’s meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden.