Pollution response
The Swedish Coast Guard has an important role in protecting the marine and coastal environment from spills of oil and other harmful substances. Through surveillance, preparedness and environmental rescue operations, we work to detect spills quickly, limit them and reduce their impact on the environment.
Spills of oil or other harmful substances are a serious threat to the marine environment. The Swedish Coast Guard is responsible for environmental rescue services at sea. We work to prevent and minimise the damage caused by spills of oil or other hazardous substances. We are always on standby with vessels and aircraft.
The Coast Guard's pollution response work can be divided into three main areas:
- Carry out environmental monitoring to detect spills of oil and other harmful substances, or an imminent risk of a spill.
- Maintain environmental preparedness so that we can start an
environmental rescue operation and quickly reach the spill or the situation. - Carry out environmental rescue operations and effectively limit and combat the spill, or take action to prevent a spill, for example by emergency towage or emergency lightering.
We also investigate possible environmental crimes in connection with spills, and we seek compensation from the party responsible for the spill.
