Under this service, potential oil slicks are detected using satellite radar images and an alert is provided to EU coastal States and EMSA within 30 minutes of the satellite acquiring the image. This information is used in support of the aerial and vessel surveillance capabilities of coastal Member States to ensure that they detect and communicate all significant discharges.

Under this arrangement, EMSA will be supported by ESA on issues relating to the development of space technologies for maritime monitoring and surveillance. In the light of its role as a long term operational European user of satellite technology, EMSA will advise ESA on user requirements for new space systems and infrastructure.

According to Mr de Ruiter, "The agreement with ESA is very valuable for the new European oil spill monitoring service of the Agency. ESA's Earth observation satellite Envisat is an extremely powerful tool that will enable us to provide valuable additional services to EU Member States in the fight to control ship-sourced pollution."

ESA has, for the last 30 years, been developing new space technologies, systems and associated applications, and transferring these for user activities. It recognises EMSA as a key European operational user of space technologies and satellite-derived information.

Mr Liebig stated that, "we see this agreement with EMSA as a major milestone in the operational use of data from Earth observation satellites in Europe."

The EC and ESA are developing the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) initiative. The objective of GMES is to provide Europe with reliable, timely information on environmental and security issues on a sustainable basis, in support of public policy-makers' needs.

The development of the GMES Space Component, coordinated by ESA, will ensure that organisations such as EMSA have guaranteed long term access to appropriate satellite observations in support of their environment- and security-related monitoring requirements. In particular, the Sentinel 1 satellite will ensure the continuity of the Envisat radar observations on which the new EMSA surveillance service is based.

The availability of Earth observation products, particularly near-real-time radar covering wide areas, is essential for the long-term sustainability of EMSA's operational maritime monitoring and surveillance services. With this agreement, ESA affirms its strong commitment to taking into account EMSA's needs, both as regards the currently operational Envisat ASAR and also with respect to the preparation of future SAR missions.

Launched in 2002, Envisat is the largest Earth observation spacecraft ever built. It carries ten sophisticated optical and radar instruments to provide continuous observation and monitoring of the Earth's land, atmosphere, oceans and ice caps. The data returned by its suite of instruments have facilitated and continue to facilitate the development of a number of operational and commercial applications.

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