European Maritime Day 2020

 

Our waters are the source of all life, it is on us to handle the waters with responsibility.

On today's European Maritime Day we show how European cooperation helps to raise the quality of life – in and all around the Baltic Sea.

 

Raising the quality of the Baltic Sea water

 

Taking water probes in the MORPHEUS project.  | Fot: MORPHEUS

 

Pharmaceutical residues, contaminants and antibiotic resistent bacteria still reach the Baltic Sea, even after wastewater treatment. The negative effects of pharmaceuticals on the ecosystem include hormonal disorders and behavioral changes. Therefore, the substances need to be removed from wastewater during the wastewater treatment, before the substances reach the Baltic Sea. The projects MORPHEUS and LESS IS MORE are working to identify the substances in the Baltic Sea’s water and to find the best and most efficient technologies for wastewater treatment.

Find out more here about MORPHEUS and here about LESS IS MORE!

 

Storm water in a port area.  | Fot: Stock photo

 

Contaminants enter the Baltic Sea not only with wastewater, but also with stormwater. On stormy days waves of water enter the ground of ports. When those waters go back into the sea, they contain contaminants from the port grounds, which are not meant to enter the Baltic Sea. The project WISA is developing and testing green technologies capable of handling storm water in harbours and other large hard surfaces in order to remove nutrients before they are released into the environmental system.

Find out more here about WISA!

 

Preparing to react to an oil spill with the BioBind technique.  | Fot: SB OIL

 

However, environmentally damaging substances can also enter the environmental system coming from ships. Accidents at sea result in serious environmental damage when fuel is spilled onto the sea. The project SB OIL trained key personnel on the techniques of the biodegradable oil binder BioBind in nautical simulations, which helps to react to oil spills in a quick and coordinated manner in cooperation across borders in order to avoid serious damages to the Baltic Sea’s ecosystem.

Find out more here about SB OIL!

 

 

More sustainable maritime transport

 

Maritime transport in the Baltic Sea area.  | Fot: INCONE60

 

Small and medium-sized ports need to be connected to international waterways and therefore integrated in bigger transportation schemes, in order to give local and regional areas access to European and transnational waterways. Creating concepts for a better access to international waterways, the project INCONE60 plans to develop the transport to be more efficient and promotes more ecological means of transport to decarbonise transport operations and mitigate the environmental impact of transport systems.

Find out more here about INCONE60!

 

 

Access to recreational activities on the water for all

 

Sailing with people with disabilities.   |  Fot: BFA

 

The project Baltic For All is lifting the barriers for people with disabilities around the Baltic Sea in watersports. Training in watersports for people with disabilities is rare around the Baltic Sea, at the same time job opportunities are lacking for disabled people in watersports. Baltic For All is creating barrier-free opportunities for recreational activities for people with disabilities in Baltic Sea watersports.

Find out more here about BFA!

 

The Interreg projects have been and still are working hard to make the Baltic Sea a better place - we wish all the project partners alot of success in the further imlementation of their projects!