Meteorological and oceanographic service system for emergency operations
Komulainen, M.-L. (1998). Meteorological and oceanographic service system for emergency operations, in: Marine meteorology and related oceanographic activities: provision and engineering/operational application of ocean wave data Unesco, Paris, 21-25 September 1998. pp. 237-240 In: (1998). Marine meteorology and related oceanographic activities: provision and engineering/operational application of ocean wave data Unesco, Paris, 21-25 September 1998. Marine Meteorology and Related Oceanographic Activities Report, 42. World Meteorological Organization: Geneva. 347 pp., more In: Marine Meteorology and Related Oceanographic Activities Report. World Meteorological Organisation: Genève, more |
| Abstract | On 28th September 1994 a serious accident occurred in the Baltic Sea, near Finnish coastal waters. The ro-ro passenger ferry MV Estonia sunk in the stormy weather, 852 passengers died and 137 survived. Sea weather services in Finland have been developed and the implementation of recommendations have been monitored during many years by users and authorities together. After the accident, in May 1996, a working group was appointed by the Ministry of the Interior to investigate possibilities on how the meteorological and oceanographic services required for emergency situations and for the related rescue services should be organised and how the operational readiness of such a service could be ensured so that search and rescue authorities could flexible obtain all weather and wave information needed for their operational activities. This MEOS/SAR group consisted of participants from the Institute of Marine Research (FIMR), the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), the Finnish Environment Institute (FEI), the Finnish Maritime Administration, the Finnish Navy, the Finnish Frontier Guard, Ministry of the Interior and from the Finnish Life-Boat society. As a result of the investigation four proposals were brought about. The first one proposes to use the existing Operation centre at FMI to serve as a duty centre for the meteorological and oceanographic services during emergency operations. The second proposal requires relevant models for emergency situations to be set ready for possible operational actions. The dissemination of radar and satellite data to authorities should also be arranged. The third and fourth proposal expose the needs for an agreement on defining responsibilities and cost sharing between the parties involved. Responsibilities and cost assignment should even be prescribed in the law. The proposals emphasise the importance of organising meteorological and oceanographic services during search and rescue operations. Based on these proposals the parties involved have already started the development work. |
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