PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Since 1978, Turkey has been a contracting party to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution (the Barcelona Convention), and to its Protocol concerning pollution by oil and other harmful substances in case of emergency. It has since been noted that the great majority of such emergencies occur in ports or their approaches. This led to the recommendation that all coastal states should have a port emergency plan coordinated with the national system for preparedness and response.
OBJECTIVES
The general objectives of the project are to: (1) enhance the preparedness and response system of Turkish ports; (2) integrate the ports’ preparedness and response system with the wider infrastructure of the national system for preparedness and response; and (3) be used as a benchmark project which can be reproduced in other Turkish ports as well as Mediterranean ports handling similar cargoes. The project was designed in two Phases: Phase I: Risk assessment 1.1 Analyse the risk of a major hazardous accident arising in the two ports as a result of the transport of a hazardous substance in bulk at sea; 1.2 Identify the main components of these risks; 1.3 Develop a simplified methodology for such a risk assessment; 1.4 Identify and select risk prevention measures; and 1.5 Provide the basis and assist priority setting for preparedness and response in the ports. Phase II: Capacity building for port preparedness and response system 2.1 Improve the existing organisation system for preparedness and response within the two ports; 2.2 Integrate the ports’ emergency system with the local and national systems for preparedness and response; 2.3 Facilitate the establishment of the response units in each port; 2.4 Identify the necessary additional equipment proportionate to the risk involved and which would be considered as a minimum requirement to deal with the risk; and 2.5 Develop a programme of training and exercises for relevant port personnel.
RESULTS
The beneficiary has successfully completed Phase I (risk assessment). This included an extensive review of the data for Mersin and Iskenderun ports (maritime traffic, institutional framework, etc.), the elaboration of a simplified methodology for quantifying risks to both ports, an assessment of the risks, and the formulation of recommendations. The work done under Phase I should be a good basis for the implementation of Phase II (not implemented) or future projects on the topic. The project has not implemented Phase II (Capacity building for port preparedness and response system) within the duration of the LIFE funding. The beneficiary has successfully completed Phase I (risk assessment). This included an extensive review of the data for Mersin and Iskenderun ports (maritime traffic, institutional framework, etc.), the elaboration of a simplified methodology for quantifying risks to both ports, an assessment of the risks, and the formulation of recommendations. The work done under Phase I should be a good basis for the implementation of Phase II (not implemented) or future projects on the topic. The project has not implemented Phase II (Capacity building for port preparedness and response system) within the duration of the LIFE funding.