Safe coast and sea in Latvia and Estonia
Countries of the Baltic Sea region share the responsibility of protecting the marine environment. In the case of an environmental accident, it is crucial to have a coordinated cross-border reaction. Because of that, the main goal of the project was to improve environmental security in marine and coastal waters in the Gulf of Riga and Irbe Strait by strengthening coordination between Latvian and Estonian rescue services and infrastructure managers (ports, small harbours, local governments).
State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia (VUGD) in cooperation with other state and municipal institutions have to ensure disaster management (response and pollution clean-up) in internal waters to the sea shoreline, while Estonian Rescue Board (ERB) in close cooperation with Estonian Small Harbour Development Centre (ESHDC) has to ensure response measures and to deal with consequence management of pollution at least 2 hours till the Coast guard and environmental agencies take over the lead in ecological accidents.
Project implemented the following activities:
- Elaborated common Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) and training materials to improve cross-border collaboration between rescue services.
- Acquired equipment for the State fire and rescue service of Latvia (VUGD) and Estonian Rescue Board (ERB) so that they can localize the oil spill in the project territory within a reasonable time. Equipment in Latvia is stored in 10 locations - 6 divisions of VUGD - Salacgrīva, Saulkrasti, Jaunciems, Sloka, Dundaga, Roja with the sea type boats with engines, trailer and lifebuoy and dry suites. 14 drysuits with thermal insulation are stored in VUGD units in Valmiera, Rīga (unit#1) and Liepāja. 1 high powerboat engine with equipment is stored in Rīga, unit#7. Coastal pollution abatement equipment in Estonia is located in 5 locations - 3 ERB units - Kuressaare, Kihelkonna, Orissaare and 2 ports - Kuivastu and Mõntu.
- The building of 4 access roads (driveways) to the beach in Latvia - Roja County Municipality, Ventspils County Municipality, Engure County Municipality and Salacgrīva County Municipality.
- Two cross-border training activities (1 in Latvia and 1 in Estonia) were organized to test in action elaborated Standard Operational Procedure. In total 161 participants from partners organisations, coast guards, police, border guards, environmental agencies, harbours, municipal representatives took part.
- Theoretical training on the clean-up of the oil spill was organized in Estonia and 115 participants from small harbours and rescue services participated.
- An awareness-raising camp for local governments, volunteers and coastal inhabitants about environmental pollution and protection brought together 115 participants.
Number of participants at the events - 349
- Oil-spill training in Estonia (May 2018)
- Joint training in Estonia (August 2018)
- Joint training in Latvia (October 2018)
- Awareness-raising camp in Latvia (June 2018)
The total amount of small scale investments - 19
Website of the project (in Latvian).
Project materials
Estonian - Latvian standard operational procedures (SOP) in response to oil pollution incidents in the Gulf of Riga and the Strait of Irbe
ENG, EE, LV
Project area and location of investments:
