The aim of the project is to develop demonstration and training areas where response techniques for the spills of new generation fuels can be tested and trained on land and on-water. Demonstration areas will be constructed on the grounds of Xamk’s Oil Spill Response Testing and Training Facility and will consist of two demonstration areas.
- Terrestrial demonstration units will allow testing and studying the fate and behaviour of spilled liquids i.e., their penetration and absorption into the soil.
- The aquatic demonstration area will be used to test spreading of the spillage in flowing waters and the response techniques to restrict, contain and recover the spill.
These demonstrations and tests will provide practical and proven information based on which new product specific response guidelines can be created. New guidelines will improve the response preparedness to new generation fuels and contribute developing new spill response technologies and products. Project aims to test especially the feasibility of renewable and reusable response products.
The project contributes to the ERF horizontal principles of sustainable development by decreasing the environmental impacts of spills concerning renewable and bio-based fuels and thus supports the use of alternative fuels. New response guidelines and enhanced response skills will decrease the harmful impacts of spillages on environment: on soil, ground water basins and surface waters. In addition, waste minimization and reuse of response materials will be endorsed. With these aims, the project contributes also to the objectives of the Kymenlaakso Regional Strategy, Kymenlaakso smart specialization strategy (RIS3) and EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Environmental aspects are taken into account thorough the project implementation.