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The NCA's responsibilities

The purpose of emergency preparedness against acute pollution is to protect life, health, the natural environment and business interests at sea and on land. Here you can read about what the Norwegian Coastal Administration's responsibility is when it comes to acute pollution.

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.
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