OTSOPA 2026

The meeting was chaired by Julie Rigaud-Marechal from France and jointly opened by the President of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (BSH), Mr. Helge Heegewaldt, and the Head of Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME/Havariekommando), Dr. Robby Renner, both highlighting the successful and in-practice cooperation under OTSOPA to protect our seas.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. EUROWA and KIMO attended as Observers.

Work has started under the new Bonn Agreement Strategy (BAS) 2025-2035 through the Implementation Plan and after screening the strategy, OTSOPA is proposing amendments and new topics to the Regional Priorities.

On prevention of marine pollution, OTSOPA considered the 2025 surveillance reports including the Tour d’Horizon report and discussed potential changes to the reporting format.

OTSOPA welcomed the approval of the EU-funded COMPAS project (Comprehensive Monitoring of Port Air Emissions and Ships) and congratulated the Co-convenors of the MARPOL Annex VI Working Groups (MAVI WGs) who greatly contributed to the project proposal. COMPAS will start in October 2026 and will cover some of the actions under the scope of work of the MAVI WGs in particular activities related to emission measurements, harmonisation of measurement methods and reporting practices, and development of policy recommendations.

The future of the Oil Spill Identification Network (OSINet) was discussed as there is a need to have a highly experienced laboratory to assume the role of co-convenor to support Germany in leading this work of providing mutual assistance and promoting quality assurance to ensure a harmonised and legally robust forensic analysis for multi-national compensation claims and related cases.

Belgium presented a proposal in relation to the Terms of Reference of the working group on Oiled Wildlife Response and Preparedness with the intention to have it running by 2027.

ITOPF attended as invited guest to the section of research and development under which OTSOPA considered pollution from alternative and new fuels, HNS, plastic pellets and containers; and development of surveillance sensors.

OTSOPA agreed to support the OSPAR’s North Sea Network of Investigators and Prosecutors (NSN) by reviewing the technical chapters of the NSN manual and organising a joint Seminar on MARPOL Annex VI enforcement by late 2027.

The next Bonn and OTSOPA meetings will be held in Malmö, Sweden, on 15–17 September 2026 and in Dublin, Ireland, on 25-27 May 2027 respectively.

OTSOPA said goodbye to Torben Iversen from Denmark, Ole Kristian Bjerkemo from Norway, and Laura de la Torre from the Secretariat, who were thanked for their significant contributions to the work of OTSOPA and the Bonn Agreement.