(NEWS) WMU Partners in EU SBOIL Project

September

2016

WMU Partners in EU SBOIL Project

WMU has partnered with the University of Rostock, the lead partner, and the Maritime University of Szczecin in the South Baltic Oil Spill Response through clean-up with biogenic oil binders (SBOIL) project which is part of the EU South Baltic Programme. This 36-month project was launched on 1 July. WMU will take the lead on the work package that includes developing the legal framework and contingency plans. The WMU’s Maritime and Environmental Group is participating in this project.

SBOIL will build on the BioBind project that focused on developing a fast and effective oil spill recovery system for coastal shallow water areas and adverse weather conditions. The BioBind concept was based on biodegradable oil binders, deployed by plane and removed by a special netboom, a combination of fishery nets and conventional oil containment booms. SBOIL aims to take up this innovative green technology to strengthen existing cross-border spill response capacities. Sub-national administration levels will be included in the cross-border cooperation. On 7 September, Dr. Fabio Ballini, WMU Lecturer, participated in the kick-off meeting for the EU.

Anticipated outcomes of SBOIL include a multilingual handbook summarizing basic knowledge about oil spills, response measures and the structural approaches of the individual South Baltic (SB) countries of Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden. It will close an information gap and improve international collaboration with local and regional authorities and national incident managers. National and international workshops, table top exercises and awareness raising campaigns will be implemented as part of the project. The components of the new green technology will be available as a training kit to inform and train individuals during and after the project as well as enable designated stations to use it in an emergency. SB stakeholders will be trained in the field and in a nautical simulator in cross-border workshops.

Participation in the project supports WMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14 concerning the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources.

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