HELCOM BALEX DELTA Exercise 2024

Baltic Sea Action Plan 2021 identified the need for the development of a regional strategic approach for addressing hazardous substances in HELCOM (action HL1). EG Haz developed the approach and framework described in this document by focusing on the findings and proposals of a background report which had reviewed the previous HELCOM hazardous substances framework (BSEP 182).

The annual oil spill response exercise, BALEX DELTA 2024, took place in Klaipeda, Lithuania, on 26-29 August 2024. Specially equipped ships and crews from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden took part in the drill at sea. The main organizers of BALEX DELTA 2024 were the Lithuanian Navy, Klaipeda Fire Rescue Department of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, and the Baltic Sea Rehabilitation Center of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum. Observers representing various organizations such as WWF and HELCOM participated in the exercise. The annual international marine pollution response exercise in the Baltic Sea, BALEX, is held in accordance with the 1992 Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (the Helsinki Convention). The Convention mandates cooperative responses and preparedness among the Baltic Sea States for large-scale accidents. The general objective of the BALEX exercises is to ensure that every Contracting Party is able to lead a major response operation. BALEX exercises are hosted by the Contracting Parties according to a schedule agreed on by the HELCOM Response Working Group. BALEX has been held every year since 1989. Video by Igor Kuzmenko, Adviser to the Maritime rescue coordination center at the Lithuanian NAVY.