Capt R Gabriele CMILT, FNI

Head, Pollution and Incident Response

Ports & Yachting DirectorateMalta Transport CentreMarsa MRS 1917

Tel: +356 22914420Mob: +356 99494312Fax: +356 22914429

Email: richard.gabriele@transport.gov.mt

CALYPSO PROJECTUSE OF RADAR INFORMATION FOR RESPONSE TO

OIL SPILLS IN THE MALTA CHANNEL AND JOINT OPERATIONAL PLAN BETWEEN MALTESE AND SICILIAN AUTHORITIES

University of MaltaValletta CampusOld University BuildingSt. Paul StreetValletta, Malta

29 August 2013

Ports & Yachting DirectorateResponsible for internal and territorial waters (12NM) and

amongst others is responsible for:

• Preservation of good order• Safety of navigation – (VTS, pilotage, port services,

etc)• Prevention and control of pollution (TM is the

designated National Competent Authority [NCA])• Controlling and promoting yachting centres

• In the Med tide is not an issue but wind and currents are• Real time information on wind and sea state exist but real

time information on currents is lacking • During response operations it is very important to have

real time information of sea surface currents as this is what affects most the movement of an oil slick therefore will enhance response planning to minimise impact on shoreline/environment

Importance of the CALYPSO Project for response operations (1)

• Real time data is also required to build historical information from which one can obtain accurate predictions to compile statistical patterns of rate and drift of currents

• During operations information can be superimposed on existing computer models giving a more accurate picture

• Such information can also be used to plan SAR operations

Importance of the CALYPSO Project for response operations (2)

• Last year radar information was used during the response exercise held offshore Malta (MALTEX 2012)

• Data was used together with the weather information to direct response vessels during the operation

• Last year only 2 out of 3 radars had been installed therefore now with the 3 radars in place information should be more accurate

Importance of the CALYPSO Project for response operations (3)

• Working Group members were invited to

participate in MALTEX 2012

• Working Group members observed the exercise

• Radars were made use of for oil spill movement

prediction

MALTEX 2012

• prediction

MALTEX 2012Extracted

from: “Participation of the PO-Unit

in the Malta Oil Spill Exercise

MALTEX 2012 Bulletin

Summary - 12/09/2012 09:30 GMT”

WP4.2 – Bi-lateral co-operation (1)

TM led this WP with the following objectives:• Exchange of information between all those involved in

response operations• To hold meetings between the Maltese and Italian

Authorities involved• To promote expertise in the field• To aid in planning for common co-ordination of

operational activities• Sharing of knowledge, facilities, equipment and support in

the use of data

• To establish protocols for daily and emergency operations

• Partners to agree to commit themselves to maintain the plan

• To device national monitoring programmes in the two countries

• Exchange of experts in the respective fields• The integration of the project within operational activities

WP4.2 – Bi-lateral co-operation (2)

Final Aims

• The installation and operation of the combined systems

• Collaboration agreements between the different entities

• Use of historical data for predictions• Combined response operations in cases

of emergency

1. Exchange between national responsible entities

2. Memorandum of Understanding

3. Draft Action Plan – Incident Response

Deliverables

• Working Group under Work Package 4.2 set-up in March 2012

• 4 Meetings held, this being the 5th and final meeting

• Experts / leading national entities in operational response from both countries have been involved

• Operational Plan Drafted with input from both sides (Operational Plan serves the purposes of the MoU in one document)

• Involvement of Italian side in MALTEX 2012

• Use of HF radar for oil spill movement prediction during MALTEX 2012

Results

• Listed as a deliverable during 2nd WG meeting on 29 May 2012

• Search was carried out for already existing agreements / protocols for bilateral response but no such operational agreements were found to exist.

• Only one Malta-Italy bi-lateral relative agreement was found to be still active: Agreement on Co-operation for the forecasting, prevention and mitigation of natural and technological disasters between the Government of Malta and the Government of the Republic of Italy (1994)

• This agreement gives both countries the ability to enter into specific operational agreements

Draft Operational Plan (1)

• Plan was drafted by Capt. Cafaro (ICG) and modelled on the RAMOGE agreement (Italy, France and Monaco) and adapted for this region

• Discussions took place on plan between:– Malta: TM, CPD, AFM – Italy: Guardia Costiera

• The draft version of the plan is complete• The plan is split in 2 main parts:

– Part 1 General– Part 2 Operational

Draft Operational Plan (2)

• Once the final text is agreed upon the respective Foreign Affairs Ministries will take over to formalise the agreement between the two countries.

• It is being proposed that this plan is implimented as a working document to the 1994 Agreement mentioned above

Draft Operational Plan (3)

We hope that with the input of all partners we can have a system from which both countries can benefit

MALTEX 2013

17 & 18 September

Thank you

for your

attention