Peter Ehlers

The HELCOM Copenhagen Declaration: A Regional Environmental Approach for Safer Shipping

Prevention of pollution from maritime traffic has been a major item for the Baltic Sea States since the beginning of their environmental co-operation in the 1970s. To ensure maritime safety in the Baltic Sea region, which is well-known for its narrow straits, shallow depths and archipelago areas, the Helsinki Commission has decided on a great number of measures during the past 20 years. In the last decade maritime transportation has been growing steadily, reflecting the intensified cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and a prospering economy which also leads to growing environmental risks. This was manifested again on 29 March 2001 with the Baltic Carrier accident. The Helsinki Commission promptly reacted by holding an extraordinary meeting on the request of the Danish Government on 10 September 2001 in Copenhagen. At the meeting, the Contracting Parties, represented through the ministers responsible for maritime transportation and the environment, and a representative from the EC agreed on a package of measures, further described below.

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission: An International Organisation for the Promotion of Marine Research

For 40 years the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has been the most important international body promoting understanding of ocean processes. Originating from a programme of UNESCO, in 1960 the IOC became a separate unit of UNESCO. The status of the IOC is regulated by Statutes which were substantially revised in 1999. These Statutes define the IOC as a part of UNESCO with functional autonomy limiting the authority of UNESCO bodies to supervise the IOC. This functional autonomy is reflected in the purposes and functions of the IOC, its relations with other international organisations and its own membership regulations. It is also reflected in its organisational structure, which consists of an Assembly, an Executive Council, a Secretariat and subsidiary bodies. The IOC is financed by UNESCO, with additional contributions allocated by Member States. The activities of IOC aim to improve our knowledge of the oceans and are increasingly directed towards the issues of responsible ocean management and sustainable development. The programmes are subdivided into ocean science projects, operational observing systems and ocean services. A special focus is training and education as well as mutual assistance in the field of ocean sciences as a contribution towards capacity building as a prerequisite for worldwide programmes. In performing its tasks the IOC enjoys partial autonomy under international law. However, its functional autonomy is considerably limited by the fact that programme and budget planning has to be approved by UNESCO, and that the funds and the personnel for the Secretariat are primarily provided by UNESCO. On the other hand it benefits from the facilities and opportunities offered from UNESCO so that the integration into this organisation and, simultaneously, the granting of a functional autonomy, constitutes a viable and economic way of promoting international co-operation with a view to improving our knowledge of the oceans.

Origins and Compensation of Marine Pollution — A Survey

Preventing pollution is the best way to protect the marine environment. Because pollution will never be totally eliminated, compensation for pollution damage is an important form of protection. Compensation is necessary for environmental restoration, but it also functions as a deterrent, and thus, has a preventive effect. The polluter-pays-principle, a main concept in environmental law,1 embodies the concept of compensation.

EUROMAR — A new era

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the development and progress of EUROMAR. EUROMAR was established in the 80s as the marine part of the EUREKA programme, which originated from a political demand to improve European competitiveness in the field of high advanced technology in regard to the United states but also to far east countries. The development and further progress of EUROMAR was strongly influenced by the fact that in 1989 the European MAST programme was started. The overall objective of this program was to contribute to establishing a scientific and technical basis for the exploration, exploitation, management, and protection of the seas around Europe. In marine technology, the focus is to encourage the development of instruments, systems, and vehicles and to promote research on several enabling technologies. In many respect, the targets of MAST and EUROMAR were overlapping. To avoid duplication and confusion, it was intended to share the tasks: precompetitive research and development projects should be funded by MAST, and the industrialization of MAST-results should be dealt with through EUROMAR. EUROMAR has significantly contributed to introduce new developments both in operational oceanography and into the scientific community. The EUROMAR Marine and Polar Research Technology Network cover the aspects of research related developments and service provision, as well as topics concerning technology transfer of results and developments from basic research into future applications.