Community Information System (CIS)

Responsibility for Counter pollution measures at Sea 

As of 1 January 2000, responsibility for the state maritime environmental surveillance and enforcement, and the state maritime pollution control at sea was transferred from the Ministry of Environment and Energy to the Danish Armed Forces. With the amendment of the Marine Environment Protection Act of 1 July 2000 the Armed Forces were given the possibility of issuing administrative fines for illegal oil discharges from ships. The Armed Forces' execution of the task is thus based on national legislation and international conventions and agreements. The aim of the Armed Forces' effort against pollution of the sea is to prevent or minimise the impact of marine pollution on flora and fauna.

Maritime Environmental Task

 The total maritime environmental task consists of the following operational sub‐tasks: - Establishment and maintenance of preparedness; - Environmental surveillance; - Enforcement; and - Pollution control. The general aim of the task is to guarantee a deterrent effect as part of prevention through proper surveillance, enforcement and securing evidence, primarily in the territorial waters and secondarily in Denmark 's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In order to obtain a maximum deterrent effect, the handling of task is concentrated on surveillance and gathering of evidence. By taking and gathering oil samples and implementing comparable oil sample analyses, the aim is to procure positive evidence in order to commence legal proceedings. If oil pollution has taken place, the aim is to minimise the impact of the damage, primarily on coasts and beaches, through timely notification of state authorities and effective coordination in the employment of all resources.

National Maritime Operations Center (NMOC)

Maritime Assistance Service (MAS) receives all reports on matters concerning the marine environment. MAS is a part of the National Maritime Operations Center (NMOC) which is responsible for:

• The direction and coordination of the total employment of the state resources at sea, including assistance from involved external authorities.
• NMOC decides on the extent of the effort in connection with established pollution, and organizes the allocated national resources. If necessary, the accomplishment of the task is coordinated with the municipal/county preparedness units.
• NMOC work concerning gathering of evidence in connection with possible criminal cases on oil pollution from ships.

These units are continuously briefed on the current situation, in order to allow local authorities and county authorities to arrange the necessary resources, or alternatively to request further support through national emergency preparedness and ultimately to request emergency assistance. To direct and control the accomplishment of the marine environmental task, the 24‐hour service set up at JOC is used.

Royal Danish Navy Command Environmental Element

Too handle the administrative part of the national marine environmental task, a Marine Environment branch has been set up at Defence Command Denmark (DCD), Royal Danish Navy Command (RDNC). NMOC is a part of RDNC and they work together concerning participation in the maritime surveillance of the marine environment, enforcement and maritime pollution control at sea.

• RDNC work concerning general matters on marine environment and sea law staff work concerning international agreements.
• Participation in national and international exercise activity in relation to the performance of the marine environmental duty.
• Participation in meeting activity, participation in international and national working groups concerning the execution of the marine environmental duty.
• Compiling reports, statistics, etc; updating of RDNC internal/external decision code, including preparation of contingency plans in relation to the performance of the marine environmental duty.
• Updating of, in connection with Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistic Organization and Air Staff, the Danish Internet homepage established pursuant to Council of the European Union decision on EU framework regulations for marine pollution cooperation.