EMSA has shifted resources to have a contracted oil spill response vessel dedicated to the Adriatic Sea area, following the signature of a series of contracts covering four geographical areas. EMSA’s executive director, Markku Mylly, explained the importance of dedicated coverage in the Adriatic Sea given its dense traffic and offshore installations.

A vessel currently involved in bunkering near the Italian city of Trieste will be fitted with oil spill response equipment for this task. The three remaining contracts replace existing EMSA contracts due to expire in 2014: a pool of two tankers, trading around the east coast of the UK, will cover the northern North Sea and have a stockpile of pollution response equipment in Sunderland; another two tankers, trading around the west coast of Ireland, will cover the North Atlantic and have their equipment based in Cobh; a tanker with on-board equipment, based in Piraeus and trading in Greek waters, will cover the Aegean Sea. All vessels are expected to be operational by mid-2014.

（spill-international.com,  Edited by Topco)