The Regional Workshop on Strengthening Partnerships for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response was held from 03 to 05 November 2026 at the Royal Olympic Hotel in Athens, Greece, in cooperation with Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. (EPE) and Polygreen International.
The workshop was officially opened by Mr. Malek Kallel, MOIG Chairman, and Dr. Vassilios Mamaloukas-Frangoulis, Director of the Marine Environment Protection Department at EPE.
The main objectives of the workshop were to provide updates on legal developments, ongoing projects and initiatives at both national and regional levels; enhance national and regional oil spill preparedness and response capabilities; keep participants informed about emerging technologies; benefit from the technical expertise of manufacturers and response organisations; share lessons learned and best practices from previous exercises; and strengthen communication and expert networks to support coordinated response efforts.
The event brought together more than 50 delegates representing Greece, the oil and gas industry, equipment manufacturers, oil spill response organisations, national and international agencies, international organisations and academic institutions. Participating organisations included EPE, POLYGREEN, POLEYCO, the Marine Environmental Protection Directorate, the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company, HELLENiQ ENERGY/HELLENiQ Petroleum, EMSA, GASTRADE, MOTOR OIL, MEGATUGS, JANAF, SEREPT, TPS, TANKMED, VIKOMA, DESMI, NORLENSE, CEDRE, ATRAC, MEKE Marine, ITOPF, the IOPC Funds, the International Group of P&I Clubs and OSRL.
The first two days of the workshop featured 23 oral presentations covering the following topics:
- Contingency Planning and Legislation
- Response Equipment and New Technology
- Oil Spill Response and Modelling
- Waste Management and Wastewater Treatment
- Regional and National Emergency Response
In addition, the workshop featured a panel discussion, moderated by EPE, with the participation of representatives from GASTRADE and HELLENiQ ENERGY, focusing on the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions and their implications for oil spill preparedness and response.
The third day was dedicated to technical visits to the POLEYCO and POLYGREEN facilities. Participants had the opportunity to visit the laboratory and learn more about the activities undertaken and the different types of analyses performed. They also attended a presentation outlining POLYGREEN's activities in waste treatment and management.
Furthermore, participants were given a guided tour of the POLYGREEN facility, where they had the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into its various facilities and operational capabilities. This visit provided valuable insight into the company's infrastructure, technical resources and capabilities in the field of environmental protection and waste management.
Following the facility visit, participants were transferred to Elefsis Port to attend an oil spill response exercise conducted by EPE and EMSA on board the AKTEA II Oil Spill Response Vessel (OSRV). This provided them with a valuable opportunity to witness a live demonstration of the deployment and operation of the Sweeping Arm, a 250-metre inflatable boom and an oil skimmer. The demonstration offered practical insight into the equipment, its operational capabilities and the techniques used in marine oil spill response operations.
MOIG was very pleased with the overall outcome of the workshop. The event provided an excellent opportunity for delegates to discuss and exchange views on a wide range of issues of common interest, sharing their knowledge, expertise and experiences on ways to further strengthen oil spill preparedness and response capabilities throughout the Mediterranean region.
At the conclusion of the event, certificates of recognition were presented jointly by EPE and MOIG to all speakers in appreciation of their valuable contributions to the success of the workshop.
In addition, Mr. Malek Kallel, MOIG Chairman, presented trophies to Mr. Thanasis Polychronopoulos, Deputy Director at EPE, and Mrs. Sofia Falida, International Business Relations Director at POLYGREEN, as a token of appreciation and recognition for their valuable support and contribution to the organisation of this event.
The Management Committee would like to extend its sincere appreciation to all speakers for the high quality of their presentations and to all participants for their active involvement, keen interest and valuable contributions throughout the workshop.
The Management Committee also wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to EPE and POLYGREEN for their excellent cooperation, generous hospitality and warm welcome extended to all delegates throughout the event.
This successful collaboration represents an important step towards further strengthening cooperation between EPE, POLYGREEN and MOIG in the field of oil spill preparedness and response in the Mediterranean region.
Error
