The main sources of oil and oil product spills in Latvian marine waters

Aerial surveillance

Approximately 90% of the pollution with oil and oil products in the Baltic Sea arrives with municipal rain water drainage, river water, and deposition from air, and only about 10% as a result of shipping.

Studies conducted within the auspices of the Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Commission) indicate that the intensity of cargo transit in the Baltic Sea will increase with the growth of oil transport from Russia and Belarus, and as a result of construction of new oil terminals. The risk of marine accidents will therefore also increase.

There is a relatively high rate of ship accidents in the Baltic Sea due to unfavourable shipping conditions such as winter storms, ice, poor visibility, sea straits, shallow and winding ship routes, and regions of intensive traffic. In the period between 1989 and 1999, there were 251 ship accidents, of which 71 resulted in oil spills.