SÖKÖSaimaa

Project objectives

Project aims to develop oil spill response preparedness and management of major pollution incidents in Saimaa Lake District.

The Lake Saimaa is the largest lake in Finland and the fourth largest lake system in Europe. Inland waterways of Saimaa are considered as a part of the main transport corridor in the trans-European transport network and is also exposed to the risk of land-based oil-discharges.

Inland oil spill response management model is based on the results of risk analysis on transportation and storage of oils in Lake Saimaa district, and the oil drift calculation models produced for identified high-risk locations. Modelling enables creation of scenario-based, site-specific contingency plans crucial for inland waters where response strategy is to be selected in a very short space of time. In Saimaa waterways where shores are near, window of opportunity to conduct an effective on-water response is further reduced due to the fast currents. In order to facilitate identification of vulnerable areas and establishing protection priorities and response strategy, management model includes easy-to-use decision support tools for response managers and on-scene response teams. Risk assessments, planning spill response logistics including transportation and storage points, mapping sensitive areas and species are all carried out during this project to operate as a frame to preparedness planning. Project results are gathered in a web-based manual.

SÖKÖSaimaa project is initiated by the regional oil spill authorities. It is a joint effort of designated spill response specialists representing the the Rescue Services of South Karelia, North Karelia, South Savo and North Savo together with the Finnish Transport Agency, the Emergency Service College, the Finnish Environment Institute and the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of South Savo, North Savo, North Karelia and Southeast Finland (ELY Centres).

Project is funded by Finnish Oil Pollution Compensation Fund of the Ministry of the Environment, Xamk, Rescue services of South Karelia, North Karelia, South Savo and North Savo, Reijo Rautauoma Foundation, William and Ester Otsakorpi Foundation and Finnish Maritime Foundation.

Project results and publications

The manual became an 834-page oil spill response handbook that is used by the response authorities for oil spill response operations management, oil spill preparedness and training. The manual consists of twenty-two (22) thematic booklets, which also serve as stand-alone operational manuals. The booklets also contain concise Task Orientation Cards (TOCs) and checklists to support operational work. In addition, the manual text, the TOCs, checklists and other forms are stored on an electronic platform, eManual, where they can be downloaded in editable versions. The exercise bank and exercise cards that the project aims to create are also included in the eManual material bank. The training materials created for the implementation of the FADN approach are also available in the material bank.

The SÖKÖ operational model includes a large amount of geospatial data, including shoreline segmentation, logistic points with site maps, higher accident risk fairway sections, priority protection sites, oil spill drift scenarios and rescue services’ equipment data, which, once completed, were transferred to the national BORIS 2.0 environmental incident situational awareness system and the data produced are available for use by all oil spill response actors.

An important part of the development of the model has been the joint workshops and oil spill response exercises, which brought together participants from different oil spill response stakeholders.

Through these forms of action, it has been possible to take into account the views of different actors, the interplay of cooperation and practical experience in the creation of the guidelines for the SÖKÖSaimaa manual. A total of fifteen (15) workshops and seven (7) exercises were organised. Both the workshops and the exercises were used to create new content, refine previous guidelines and, in the final phase of the project, to test and refine the materials, operational guides and TOCs produced.

Main publications

Scenario-based Oil Spill Response Model for Saimaa Inland Waters.

IMAM 2017

Operational Profile of RPA Systems in Nearshore Oil Spill Response

Interspill 2018

Oil Spill Response Planning on Lake Saimaa – Special Features and Comprehensive Preparedness

Interspill 2018

List of publications

SÖKÖSaimaa 2018. SÖKÖSaimaa -manuaali, Öljyntorjunnan toimintamalli Saimaan syväväylälle. Halonen, J.; Altarriba, E. & Rantavuo, E. (toim.) Xamk Kehittää 42. Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu, Kotka. ISBN 978-952-344-084-5, ISBN (verkkojulkaisu) 978-952-344-085-2. Saatavissa: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-344-085-2.
Öljyntorjunnan toimintamallin kehittäminen Saimaan syväväylälle. SÖKÖSaimaa-hankkeen taustaselvitykset ja loppuraportti. Halonen, J. (toim.) Xamk Kehittää 64. Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu, Kotka. ISBN 978-952-344-137-8 (nid.), ISBN 978-952-344-138-5 (pdf). Saatavissa: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-344-138-5
Halonen, J. & Kauppinen, J. 2017. Scenario-based Oil Spill Response Model for Saimaa Inland Waters. Full Paper in Maritime Transportation and Harvesting of Sea Resources, Volume 1. Edit. Soares, C.G. & Teixeira, Ã.P. Proceedings of IMAM 2017, 17th International Congress of the International Maritime Association of the Mediterranean. Lontoo: Tailor & Francis Group. ISBN 978-0-8153-7993-5. pp. 305-312. Available: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018062914282.
Altarriba, E. 2017. Öljyn leviämisen estimointi arviointitaulukoiden avulla osana operatiivista öljyntorjuntatyötä Saimaalla. Xamk Tutkii 2, Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu. ISBN 978-952-344-043-2. Available: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-344-043-2.
Pitkäaho, M.; Veneskari, T.; Rantavuo, E.; Nevalainen, J.; Halonen, J. & Norema, S. 2018. Operational Profile of Commercially Available RPA Systems in Nearshore Oil Spill Response. Short Paper. Interspill 2018 Conference 13-15.3.2018, London. Available Operational-Profile-of-RPA-Systems-E-Altarriba-South-Eastern-University-of-Applied-Sciences.pdf (interspill.org)
Altarriba, E.; Halonen, J. & Silmäri, J. 2018. Oil Spill Response Planning on Lake Saimaa – Special Features and Comprehensive Preparedness. Short Paper. Interspill 2018 Conference 13-15.3.2018, London. Available Oil-Spill-Response-Planning-E-Altarriba-South-Eastern-University-of-Applied-Sciences.pdf (interspill.org)
Halonen, J. 2018. Kriittisen nopeuden käsite öljyvuodon puomituksessa. Teoksessa Liikkeellä, Toimintaa ja tuloksia Logistiikan ja merenkulun tutkimus- ja kehitystoiminnasta. Halonen, J. & Potinkara, P. (Eds.) Xamk Kehittää 60. Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu, Kotka. ISBN 978-952-344-125-5. Pp 92-99. Available: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-344-126-2
Halonen, J.; Punnonen, J. & Nevalainen, J. 2018. Harjoitus tekee mestarin – Kokemuksia öljyntorjuntaharjoi-tuksista Saimaalta. Teoksessa Liikkeellä, Toimintaa ja tuloksia Logistiikan ja merenkulun tutkimus- ja kehitystoiminnasta. Halonen, J. & Potinkara, P. (Eds.) Xamk Kehittää 60. Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu, Kotka. ISBN 978-952-344-125-5. pp 110-119. Available: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-344-126-2