The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, alongside the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) and the Finnish Border Guard, are pushing for a more equitable distribution of EMSA’s oil spill response vessels across European waters.
Additionally, Finland is advocating for EMSA to initiate a procurement procedure for a stand-by oil spill response vessel capable of navigating icy conditions, specifically tailored for the northern Baltic Sea. This move comes in response to the elevated threat of oil spills, exacerbated by international sanctions forcing Russia to use older, inadequately insured vessels for oil transport.
The risks are further amplified by winter weather conditions, which pose significant challenges for aging Russian oil tankers lacking proper ice navigation equipment. Recovering oil in icy waters is more complex and costly compared to open water spills, underscoring the need for specialized response measures.