In the Integrated Management Plan for the Barents Sea, the Government has decided that it will set up a forum for cooperation on risks to the environment in relation to acute pollution in this maritime domain. The government thereby wishes to enhance its work on environmental risk assessments. The forum will be headed by the Norwegian Coastal Administration, and will include representatives from a broad range of relevant public institutions.

“We wish to improve risk monitoring in the region, particularly in relation to acute oil pollution and sea transport. We must be in a position to deal with this risk in the best possible way,” says Helga Pedersen, the Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs.

The growth of the oil industry in the north of Norway is leading to higher levels of transport by sea, resulting in a need for enhanced contingency planning. One important aspect of this respect is the Government’s objective of introducing mandatory shipping routes between Vardø and Røst, 30 nautical miles off the coast, which will reduce the risk of accidents. The Government is now petitioning the UN´s International Maritime Organization, IMO, to establish these shipping routes. Another important aspect of the work on safety at sea is the Vessel Traffic Service Centre in Vardø, which will become operational in 2007.

Earlier this week, Norway and Russia signed an agreement regarding cooperation over safety at sea in the Barents Sea. Amongst other things, a system is being set up to make it easier to see which vessels are in the region, and what their cargoes are.