International cooperation works in cleaning up after maritime disasters and pollution offences and in preventing them! This is the lesson that comes from nearly 40 years scientific, technical and operational work of the Bonn Agreement. The BONN parties have created great expertise in handling these many threats to the marine environment. New developments need to maintain and promote this crucial cooperation.

Why do we need the Bonn Agreement?

The Torrey Canyon

The perils of the sea are only too real and ever present. Ever since mankind started using the sea for trade, ships have sunk and been wrecked. Since Ancient Greece, traders have insured their cargoes against the perils of the sea. For the last two centuries, shore-based lifeboats have sought to save human life from the perils of the sea, supported now by radar, aeroplanes, helicopters and the most modern satellite technology.

But it was only when ships began carrying massive quantities of potentially damaging material that it became clear that the perils of the sea could threaten the well-being of sea itself and all who depend on its waters, coasts and produce. Maritime pollution – from shipwrecks, shipping collisions and illegal discharges – became a substantial threat.

In 1967, the tanker Torrey Canyon was wrecked on the Seven Stones off the Isles of Scilly (south-west of England ). It was carrying 117 000 tonnes of crude oil. As this cargo turned into a black tide sweeping east up the English Channel , the need for international cooperation to deal with such problems became clear. Coastal states could not wait until the threat was in their waters: they needed to respond collectively as soon as possible.

Within two years, Belgium , Denmark , France , Germany , the Netherlands , Norway , Sweden and the United Kingdom had set up the Bonn Agreement to meet this need for cooperation. When the Agreement was revised in 1983, the European Community became a Contracting Party. In 1987, the Agreement was extended to cover cooperation in surveillance. In 2007, Ireland is expected to join and the North Sea Area will then be expanded to cover Irish waters and related Norwegian and UK waters.

What does the Bonn Agreement cover?

The Contracting Parties implement the Agreement by:

·    keeping their zones of responsibility under surveillance for threats of marine pollution, including coordinating aerial and satellite surveillance;

·    alerting each other to such threats;

·    adopting common operational approaches, so that they can rely on each other to achieve the necessary standards of prevention and clean-up;

·    supporting each other (when asked to do so) in response operations;

·    sharing research and development;

·    carrying out joint exercises.

Detected oil slicks in the North Sea Area - 2004

What does the Bonn Agreement need?

Aerial surveillance

Skimming oil

Dispersing an oil slick

Traffic levels and pollution

Since 1985, the tonnage handled by North Sea ports has risen by nearly 50%. Traffic through the North Sea to the Baltic has risen similarly. The measures to reduce oil pollution (including the work of the Bonn Agreement) have been successful: the number of slicks detected has reduced since 1990 by about 50%. But ship traffic is expected to rise in the next 10 years by another 50%. Major new traffics will appear (e.g., oil exports from Russia through Murmansk and Kaliningrad ). Preventing a rise in pollution incidents, let alone maintaining reductions, needs effort.

Vessel size

The tonnage increase comes from larger vessels, as well as more ship movements. Larger vessels pose significantly bigger problems if they are involved in breakdowns, collisions or shipwrecks. Response capabilities have to be increased accordingly.

Hazardous and noxious cargoes

In the past, there have been few pollution incidents involving hazardous and noxious (HNS) cargoes. But the risks from such cargoes are present, and increasing. The IMO HNS liability convention needs to be brought into force, to cover the costs of clean-up after such incidents, and the HNS Preparedness & Response Protocol also needs to be implemented.

Marine pollution offences

Under the International Convention on Marine Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78), the whole of the North Sea Area is a “special area” for oil discharges – any oily discharge that is visible as a sheen on the water is illegal. The number of oil slicks detected shows that there is still a lot of work to do to bring to justice the offenders responsible for those slicks. The North Sea Network of Investigators and Prosecutors and the Bonn Agreement work together on enforcement, but need more resources.

Surveillance

Combined satellite and aerial surveillance is needed to enforce the rules against marine pollution from shipping. Ship traffic is increasing – surveillance must therefore be maintained.

Response – emergency towing

If a ship breaks down, the best way to prevent a disaster is to tow it to a place of refuge. Fewer commercial tugs are available because of the drop in shipping disasters. So emergency towing vessels need to be kept to deal with the break-downs which will happen.

Response – clean-up

Early response is the key to a successful clean-up – the pollution needs to be dealt with before it spreads. Response resources, both for skimming and (where used) spraying dispersants, are therefore needed within easy reach of the main shipping routes.

Response – cooperation on shore

Good local, regional and national plans are needed to coordinate response at sea and response on shore to the pollution that reaches land. This needs resources for the local authorities on shore to develop plans, to train for their use and to organise the necessary equipment.

Response – exercises

Cooperation in response needs training in exercises. Resources are needed to enable joint training for the different BONN countries.

See www.bonnagreement.org for further information.