WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
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JOINT WMO/IOC TECHNICAL COMMISSION FOR
OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE METEOROLOGY (JCOMM)
EXPERT TEAM ON MARINE ACCIDENT
EMERGENCY SUPPORT
INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC
COMMISSION (OF UNESCO)
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ETMAES-I/Doc. 1.2(2)
(8.VIII.2006)
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ITEM 1.2
FIRST SESSION
ANGRA DOS REIS, BRAZIL, 29 TO 31 JANUARY 2007
Original: ENGLISH
ANNOTATED PROVISIONAL AGENDA
1.
Opening of the session
1.1.
Opening
The first session of the Expert Team on Marine Accident Emergency Support (ETMAES) of
the Joint WMO/IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) will
open at 0930 hours on Monday, 29 January 2007, in Angra dos Reis, Brazil. The session will be
chaired by Mr Pierre Daniel, chairperson of the Expert Team.
1.2.
Adoption of the agenda
The Team will be invited to adopt the agenda for the session on the basis of the provisional
agenda prepared by the Secretariat.
1.3.
Working arrangements
The Team will agree its hours of work and other practical session arrangements. The
documentation will be introduced by the Secretariat. It is expected that the documentation, and the
meeting itself, will be in English only.
The ETMAES chairperson or any other members of the Team may request the
consideration of additional issues. In that case, they would be requested to prepare the relevant
documentation and submit it to the Secretariat in due time. Possible such issues are listed below. In
addition, a few sub-items will require separate discussions and are identified as such.
2.
Reports
2.1
Report of the chairperson
2.2
Report of the Secretariat
2.3
Reports by AMOCs
The Team will be presented with reports by the chairperson of the Team and the
Secretariat on the activities and actions taken since the first session of the ad hoc Task Team on
Marine Pollution and Emergency Response Support System (MPERSS). These reports will also touch
the overall results of JCOMM-II (Halifax, Canada, September 2005), the fifth session of the JCOMM
Management Committee (MAN-V) (Geneva, Switzerland, October 2006) and the third session of the
JCOMM Services Coordination Group (SCG-III) (Exeter, United Kingdom, November 2006), as well as
actions taken since these sessions.
ETMAES-I/Doc. 1.2(2), p. 2
MPERSS Area Meteorological and Oceanographic Coordinators (AMOCs) will present brief
reports on their experience, progress, success and difficulties in implementing the system within their
respective Marine Pollution Incident (MPI) areas.
3.
Products related to specific risks
3.1
Review MetOcean input data requirements, including satellites
JCOMM-II adopted Recommendation 10 (JCOMM-II), Appendix II of the Annex, for the
inclusion of a description of MetOcean input data requirements for marine pollution monitoring and
response, which will be included in the Guide to Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No. 471). The
Team will be invited to review this description and propose amendments and/or additions as
appropriate.
3.2
Report on Harmful Algal Blooms
Phytoplankton blooms, micro-algal blooms, toxic algae, red tides, or harmful algae, are all
terms for naturally occurring phenomena. About 300 species of micro algae are reported at times to
form mass occurrence, so called blooms. Nearly one fourth of these species are known to produce
toxins. The scientific community refers to these events with a generic term, ‘Harmful Algal Bloom’
(HAB), recognizing that, because a wide range of organisms is involved and some species have toxic
effects at low cell densities, not all HABs are ‘algal’ and not all occur as ‘blooms’.
The IOC Assembly, at its Sixteenth Session (March 1991), adopted a resolution with
respect to the formation of an ad hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms in order to
identify adequate resources for a sufficiently broad programme to solve some of the real problems
caused by algal blooms. The Team will be invited to address this issue.
4.
Coordination with other Organizations
4.1
IMO report
The Team will be presented with a report by the representative of IMO on marine pollution.
Both WMO and IMO have been providing regulations and guidance materials concerning this issue.
The Team will be invited to address the coordination and responsibilities between both organizations
on this issue.
4.2
IHO report
Under this agenda item, the Team will be presented with a report by the IHO representative
and will be invited to address the coordination and responsibilities between ETMAES and IHO.
4.3
EMSA report
The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has the responsibility for setting up a
network of vessels, equipment and other resources to help Member States to deal with pollution from
ships. The Team will be presented with a report by the EMSA representative and will be invited to
address the coordination and responsibilities between ETMAES and EMSA.
4.4
Other
Under this agenda item, the Team will be presented with a report by any other participant in
the meeting and will be invited to address the coordination and responsibilities with any other
organization.
ETMAES-I/Doc. 1.2(2), p. 3
5.
Definition of boundaries and responsibilities for MPI areas
When the boundaries for the existing MPI areas were decided upon, marine pollution
support and facilities were not envisioned for the Arctic region. At the JCOMM-II session, it was agreed
that:

Canada would be responsible for Arctic waters north of 67°N over Marine Pollution
Incident (MPI) Areas IV, XII and XVI; and

Norway would be responsible for Arctic waters north of 71°N over Marine Pollution
Incident (MPI) Area I.
The Team will therefore be invited to review the current status of this issue, and make
proposals in order to define new boundaries and responsibilities for MPI areas.
6.
Review of WMO regulations and operational information
6.1
Guidelines for delivery of information
Based on the information given and results of discussions conducted under the previous
agenda items, the Team will be invited to review the options for describing the information to be
delivered in case of a marine pollution incident.
6.2
Update of Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No. 558) and Guide to
Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No. 471)
JCOMM-II adopted Recommendation 10 (JCOMM-II) for a number of amendments and
additions to the Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No. 558) and Guide to Marine
Meteorological Services (WMO-No.471). The Team will therefore be invited to review these
amendments and additions, make proposals, and provide input in order to update these publications.
6.3
Training
Specific training on models’ interpretation (atmospheric, oceanographic and drift models) is
required to further implement MPERSS worldwide. Based on the information given and results of
discussions conducted, the Team will be invited to discuss and define a strategic plan for MAES
training.
7.
Information delivery
7.1
Web site
A web site (http://www.maes-mperss.org) has been established to make available in realtime useful information, including technical and scientific issues related to the implementation of
MPERSS. The Team will review its structure, contents and periodic updates, engagement with the SPA
and other web sites, and other relevant issues.
7.2
User feedback
Direct interaction with and feedback from users is an essential part of the provision of high
quality and valuable marine services. The Team will be invited to address this issue.
8.
Review of ETMAES work plan
Based on the information given and results of discussions conducted under previous
agenda items, the Team will be invited to define targets and priorities for ETMAES, taking into account
the availability of resources.
ETMAES-I/Doc. 1.2(2), p. 4
9.
Closure of the session
9.1
Adoption of the report
Participants will be expected to review, modify as necessary and approve the final report of
the session, including action items and recommendations.
9.2
Closure
The second session of the Expert Team on Marine Accident Emergency Support is
expected to close by noon on Wednesday, 31 January 2007.
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