The Norwegian Coastal Administration’s Department for Emergency Response
- Exercises the government’s responsibility for preparedness against acute pollution.
- Located at the Centre for Marine Environment and Safety in Horten (SMMS), with regional offices in Bergen and Tromsø.
- Responsible for preventing and identifying acute pollution.
- In the event of acute pollution incidents, the Department shall ensure that the responsible polluter or local municipality implements the necessary response measures.
Important responsibilities
- Maintain the government’s responsibility for 24/7 preparedness against acute pollution.
- Coordinating and training private, municipal and government resources for preparedness in a national contingency system.
- Improving government preparedness by organising courses and training programmes, and by developing new equipment and methods.
- Following up a broad range of national and international agreements concerning notification and assistance, and being proactive in international work on acute pollution response.
- Ensuring that the responsible polluter or local municipality according to the obligation to respond takes action.
- Making demands on the responsible polluter in the event of acute pollution incidents
- Investing in and maintaining response equipment deployed at government depots and on vessels involved in the contingency system.
- Monitoring shipwrecks and implementing necessary measures to reduce environmental risk.
- Ensuring appropriate national emergency towing preparedness.