Spill Notification Point

Competent National Authority

Response Arrangements

The Swedish Coast Guard (SCG), an independent civil authority under the Ministry of Defence, has national responsibility for dealing with spills of oil and other harmful substances in Swedish waters and in the Vänern, Vättern and Mälaren lakes.

The Coast Guard operates 26 stations along the coastline; the stations come under the supervision of two regional headquarters, situated in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Operational command is undertaken by the commander of the regional centre. In serious incidents, command may by be assumed by Central Headquarters.

Municipalities have responsibility for shorelines, municipal harbours and some private harbours. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency supports the municipalities with R&D, training and additional response equipment stored in regional stockpiles.

The Coast Guard has developed a national contingency plan and the relevant county administrations have developed sensitivity atlases.

Response Policy

Sweden gives priority to mechanical recovery methods. Dispersant or sinking agents are not used. 

Equipment

Government

The Swedish Coast Guard has a sizeable fleet of oil recovery vessels, some of which are designed for sustained operations at sea. There are major stockpiles in Gothenburg, Karlskrona, Stockholm and Härnösand. The Coast Guard also has three advanced surveillance aircraft. Sweden does not maintain any vessel or aircraft dispersant application capability, nor hold any dispersant stockpiles.

Private

The provincial authorities require oil terminals and other oil handling facilities to maintain a reasonable amount of oil spill response equipment. 

Previous Spill Experience

The Swedish Coast Guard has considerable experience of responding to major spills including the TSESIS (1977), ANTONIO GRAMSCI (1979) and VOLGONEFT 263 (1990). In the latter incident, a combined response was organised under the Helsinki Convention.

Hazardous & Noxious Substances

The competent authority for dealing with marine pollution involving HNS is the Swedish Coast Guard.  Sweden covers response to HNS in its NCP and has made a risk assessment that includes marine transport of HNS.  The Swedish Coast Guard has specialised response teams for marine incidents involving HNS, consisting of 70 emergency responders trained for water diving, fire fighting and chemical spill response.  The SCG also has a contract with six municipal fire brigades along the coastline, each of which can provide a team of six fire fighters that are specially trained for HNS response at sea.  Sweden has specialised equipment for monitoring marine spills of HNS.  It has a chemical recovery vessel on order for 2009, and several of its oil response vessels have an over pressure system and special gas filter for use in hazardous atmospheres.  Sweden has been involved in one previous marine incident with HNS, MARTINA (2000, hydrochloric acid).  (Information from EMSA, 2008)

Compensation

* not yet in force 

Regional & Bilateral Agreements

• Bonn Agreement (with countries bordering the North Sea).
• Helsinki Convention (with countries bordering the Baltic Sea).
• Copenhagen Agreement (with Denmark, Finland, Iceland & Norway).

Date of issue: May 2013