When a modern cargo vessel experiences a spill today, responders may no longer be dealing with conventional oil or predictable pollutants, but with low-sulphur fuels that can solidify in cold water or chemicals that may quickly form toxic gas clouds.
These emerging risks are reshaping how Europe prepares for marine pollution incidents. Against this backdrop, the IMAROS 2opens in new tab and MANIFESTS Geniusopens in new tab projects, funded by the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), are advancing new approaches to preparedness, response, and knowledge sharing across the region, with a shared goal of ensuring readiness for complex incidents now and in the future. As Earth Day highlights the need for action, this article examines how Europe is working to better safeguard its seas.
Why These Projects Are Important
Efforts to reduce pollution do not always have straightforward outcomes. In shipping, new regulations have successfully reduced harmful sulphur emissions into the air. However, they have also led to the use of new types of fuel that behave very differently when spilled into the sea.
As Silje Berger, project manager of IMAROS 2, explains:
“Reducing sulphur emissions is a major achievement, but it has also introduced new challenges in spill response.”
At the same time, ships are transporting increasing amounts of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS), chemicals that, in the event of an accident, can evaporate, dissolve, or form toxic gas clouds. These substances are complex, and their range of potential harmful impacts is wide.
Laura Cotte, project manager of MANIFESTS Genius, highlights the challenge:
“There are more than 2,000 different substances transported at sea, which makes it very difficult to predict their behaviour in case of an accident.”
IMAROS 2: When Oil Doesn’t Behave Like Oil
IMAROS 2 focused on a surprising problem: modern low-sulphur fuels do not always behave like traditional oil when spilled. The project brought together researchers and industry to better understand these fuels and improve response methods. The work included:
One particularly effective approach was testing equipment, improving it, and then testing it again – an iterative cycle that led to clear progress.
The key finding was that some of these fuels can transition from liquid into a more solid, wax-like substance in the water. This makes them more difficult to collect during fuel oil spills and brought up new understanding on how to improve mechanical recovery systems and equipment.
Berger explains:
“It’s not just about viscosity anymore. The oil can become solid, and that requires a completely different approach.”
Environmental conditions, particularly temperature, play a major role. Colder waters make the problem more pronounced, but it can also occur in warmer regions depending on the fuel type.
Key outcomes of the project include:
MANIFESTS Genius: Preparing for Chemical Spills
While IMAROS 2 focused on oil, MANIFESTS Genius addressed hazardous chemicals transported by sea. The project aimed to better understand how these substances behave and how to respond effectively. Activities included:
Unlike oil, chemicals can behave in many ways. Some evaporate quickly and form dangerous gas clouds, while others dissolve or sink in water.
Cotte explains:
“The challenge with these substances is that each one behaves differently – you need experimental data and training to understand and anticipate the risks.”
The project resulted in a comprehensive package of practical tools:
A Shared Impact
Although the two projects focus on different types of pollution, they highlight a common lesson: solving one environmental problem can sometimes create new challenges.
As Berger puts it:
“When you change regulations in one area, it can lead to unexpected challenges elsewhere.”
Both projects also demonstrate the importance of collaboration and an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together scientists, emergency responders, and industry to develop practical solutions.
For both, the work does not stop here. Future efforts will focus on:
With support from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, projects like IMAROS 2 and MANIFESTS Genius are helping Europe remain prepared in a rapidly changing maritime risk landscape.
As Cotte notes:
“Every new piece of data contributes to long-term improvements in response capabilities.”
MANIFESTS Genius brought together five partner organisations from Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and France. The project was coordinated by the Centre de Documentation, de Recherche et d’Expérimentation sur les Pollutions Accidentelles (CEDRE) in France.
IMAROS 2 involved seven partner organisations from France, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Malta. The coordinating organisation was Kystverket Vest in Norway.
* Copyright of the first profile photograph is owned by the project MANIFESTS Genius.
The Knowledge Network editorial team is here to share the news and stories of the Knowledge Network community. We'd love to hear your news, events and personal stories about your life in civil protection and disaster risk management. If you've got a story to share, please contact us.
Sectors
Risk drivers
Thematic series