Agreement between ESA and the European Maritime Safety Agency signed

[BGonaSTICK]

Today, 2 March 2007, Mr Willem de Ruiter, Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and Mr Volker Liebig, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, signed an agreement between the two agencies, strengthening the framework for cooperation in the field of maritime monitoring and surveillance.

The signature took place at the final preparatory stage of EMSA's new satellite-based oil spill monitoring service covering all European waters and adjacent high seas. Under this service, potential oil slicks are detected using satellite radar images and an alert is provided to EU coastal States and EMSA within 30 minutes of the satellite acquiring the image. This information is used in support of the aerial and vessel surveillance capabilities of coastal Member States to ensure that they detect and communicate all significant discharges.

Under this arrangement, EMSA will be supported by ESA on issues relating to the development of space technologies for maritime monitoring and surveillance. In the light of its role as a long term operational European user of satellite technology, EMSA will advise ESA on user requirements for new space systems and infrastructure.

Source: Comspacewatch