Impact analysis on the oil pollution response services of the European Maritime Safety Agency during the Covid-19 pandemic (2006–2020)

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 174; p. 113220
• Main Author: Uçak, Şengül Şanlier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Annual reports; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Drills; Humans; Impact analysis; Maritime safety; Network of stand-by oil spill response vessels; Oil pollution; Oil pollution response services; Oil spill; Pandemics; Petroleum Pollution; Safety; SARS-CoV-2; Ship accidents & safety; The Covid-19 pandemic; The European Maritime Safety Agency; Oil spill; The Covid-19 pandemic; Oil pollution response services; Network of stand-by oil spill response vessels; The European Maritime Safety Agency
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113220

This study focuses on oil pollution response services performed by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). In this context, the annual reports on all drills and exercises published between 2006 and 2020 were analyzed in detail. The main goal of the study is to identify the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020 on the oil pollution response services carried out in the last 15 years. Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020 and the resulting travel restrictions, EMSA was unable to participate directly in drills, exercises and tests, and it audited the services remotely. As a result, the Covid-19 pandemic, has been seen disrupted the oil pollution response services of the agency.
•In 2020, there were disruptions in oil pollution response services.•EMSA was audited the services remotely.•There is a significant decrease in the number of operational and notification exercises.•Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, EMSA was unable to participate directly in drills, exercises and tests.•The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the oil pollution response services of the agency.