About the Conference

The idea to organize a regional gathering dedicated exclusively to various aspects of accidental oil spills, including prevention, preparedness for and response to such marine pollution incidents, was born in discussions among a group of experts involved in marine environment protection in the Republic of Croatia. An additional incentive was certainly the initiative taken by competent national administrations of six Adriatic coastal States, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia, to declare the Adriatic Sea a particularly sensitive sea area (PSSA).

Protection of the Adriatic Sea against oil pollution incidents, especially major ones, and the capability to efficiently respond to these, is particularly important for all coastal countries which consider the health of the marine environment, including the coast with all its natural and economic resources, as an element of paramount importance for their sustainable development.

Further contacts with colleagues from the region as well as with the relevant international organizations confirmed the interest of institutions, companies and experts from the Adriatic region, the Mediterranean, the European Union and those operating at the global level, in convening an international meeting aimed at exchange of experience and acquiring new knowledge specifically adapted to the needs of and conditions in the Adriatic.

It was decided to call it the First Adriatic Oil Spill Conference hoping that the Conference will continue to live as a regular gathering of interested experts and organizations.

The Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia offered its support to the Conference, and a number of relevant international organizations and institutions such as IMO, REMPEC, EMSA, IOPC Funds, Cedre, ITOPF etc. also expressed their interest and confirmed their participation in it.

The goal of the Conference is to facilitate an exchange of experience and knowledge in the fields of prevention, preparedness for and response to marine oil pollution incidents among the participants from the Adriatic costal States - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia, as well as with their counterparts from other parts of Europe and the Mediterranean.

We are pleased to invite you to attend the First Adriatic Oil Spill Conference that will be held between 12 and 14 May 2010 in Opatija, Croatia.