Ulf Siwe: Policy Area Safe – a Baltic safety network

Ulf Siwe
Policy Area Safe Coordinator
The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) fosters international cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. The Strategy is divided into three main objectives: Saving the Sea, Connecting the Region and Increasing Prosperity.

The strategy has an action plan which is implemented through 14 Policy Areas. The policy area for maritime safety and security (PA Safe) is responsible for four of the actions: 

• Providing reliable navigational conditions to the Baltic Sea,
• Developing winter navigation to meet future challenges,
• To be a forerunner in digitalisation and automation and
• Ensure accurate preparedness and response for maritime accidents and security issues.

The actions are implemented by projects receiving funding from different EU sources, like Interreg, Horizon and CEF.  The EU member states in the region make up the Steering Group and contributes to the work, which includes cooperation with other regional bodies like HELCOM and VASAB.

PA Safe stimulate the creation of project ideas and support project consortium forming to take ideas into real projects. PA Safe further disseminate projects objectives and results, assist the projects on policy issues. The policy area makes sure that the project results live on many years after the projects are finished. It connects ongoing projects which facilitates cross-fertilization and future cooperation in new PA Safe projects.

One project that helped provide reliable navigation and helped the region to be a digital forerunner was FAMOS. It provided modern bathymetric measures (depth) in most countries but it also developed an advanced model for the actual surface of the Baltic Sea. Since the earth is not completely spherical the surface is actually varying as well due to differences in gravitation. Not all countries were involved in the gravitational model, but the following BalMarGrav project completed the model by retrieving measurements from archives in the former “Eastern Bloc” countries and updating the FAMOS model – a very cost efficient method.

The EfficientFlow project helped increase safety and sustainability. It provided an open source software to exchange port service timing information. This formed the basis for the world’s first Just-in-Time arrival solution for bulk shipping in the Port of Gävle. Ships get information on the exact availability of the quay and all connected services. Instead of sailing fast and then wait at anchor, the ships slow down and save fuel and emissions. The Euronews TV channel featured the results.

To summarize, PA Safe is a facilitator that helps increase safety and sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region. The main strength is the network of experts that grows and interacts.