Impact analysis on the oil pollution response services of the European Maritime Safety Agency during the Covid-19 pandemic (2006-2020)

Abstract

This study focuses on oil pollution response services performed by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). In this context, the annual reports on all drills and exercises published between 2006 and 2020 were analyzed in detail. The main goal of the study is to identify the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020 on the oil pollution response services carried out in the last 15 years. Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020 and the resulting travel restrictions, EMSA was unable to participate directly in drills, exercises and tests, and it audited the services remotely. As a result, the Covid-19 pandemic, has been seen disrupted the oil pollution response services of the agency.