SÖKÖSuomenlahti

Main objectives and activities

The SÖKÖ Suomenlahti project is updating the SÖKÖ I and SÖKÖ II oil spill response management models, which were developed in 2007 and 2011 respectively. The models will be unified and expanded to reflect technological advances and changes in spill response legislation. The Oil Spill Response Management Model outlines how to conduct oil spill response operations within the Regional Fire and Rescue Service’s area of responsibility.

The SÖKÖ spill response management model is scenario-based and scaled to the worst marine oil spill expected. It consists of guidelines for response tactics, oil containment and recovery, reconnaissance, shoreline protection, onshore clean-up operations, waste management, spill response logistics, communication, human resources, financial management, and procedures for claims and compensation, as well as health and safety.

The SÖKÖ model also includes a range of tools for managing spills, including operational charts showing shoreline segmentation, waste flow charts, reconnaissance forms, and other applications for managing data.

OBJECTIVES

The project aimed to:

• minimise the impact of major oil spills by developing up-to-date, joint response guidelines.
• improve the competency and capacity of the oil spill response, develop spill response techniques and tactics, and enhance overall preparedness for marine oil spills.

ACTIVITIES

• The aim is to compile a spill response manual. The manual comprises over twenty sections, each describing a specific field of responsibility or temporal phase.
• Carry out field surveys to produce geographical information, including data on oil waste logistics and sensitive areas.

OUTCOMES

• Gulf of Finland Oil Spill Response Management Manual (In Finnish)
• Project Final Report (In Finnish)
• GIS-data and series of static maps.