When oil spills, effective response depends on situational awareness
The DIGIMARIS project enhances maritime oil spill response capacity in the Gulf of Finland by testing and developing the integration of unmanned ground and surface vehicles (UGVs and USVs) into the operational capabilities of rescue authorities in Finland and Estonia.
Preparedness is half the solution
The tense geopolitical situation has increased the risk of oil spills in the Gulf of Finland. Sanctions imposed on Russia, the emergence of the shadow fleet used to circumvent them, and the continuous disruption of GPS positioning signals in the region create a challenging combination.
The heavily trafficked shipping routes of the Gulf of Finland face increased risks from often substandard shadow fleet vessels that conceal their location data and whose crews may have limited experience navigating the Baltic Sea’s shallow and rocky waters. A grounding or other maritime accident could result in an oil spill originating from either the vessel’s own fuel or its cargo, following hull damage or sinking.
Beyond the risks associated with current shipping, potentially polluting wrecks are an increasingly recognised source of marine pollution, as fuel oil remaining in vessels sunk during the World Wars may leak as they corrode. Some wrecks are already leaking, reinforcing the need for early detection and effective response preparedness.
In the event of an accident, rapid and accurate situational awareness is critical for effective operational decision-making and helps ensure that available response resources are used as efficiently as possible on both sides of the Gulf of Finland.
Concrete objectives with upscaling potential
The DIGIMARIS project is developing a new digital service that integrates real-time data collected by autonomous vessels into the operational situational picture used in oil spill response. In Finland, the Kymenlaakso Rescue Department is exploring the use of the service in coastal waters, while in Estonia, the Estonian State Fleet is assessing its application in both coastal and offshore operations.
Both project partners will procure USVs and sensor combinations suitable for oil spill detection, monitoring, and analysis. Consortium member South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) has been responsible for planning and conducting technology and equipment testing together with other project partners at its open-air test basin. These activities support the development of the technical requirements and procurement specifications needed for the new equipment.
Project partner TalTech Estonian Maritime Academy (TalTech) will pilot the integration of sensor data into the Next-Generation Smart Response Web (NG-SRW), a web-based Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) designed for maritime oil spill response and management, particularly in the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland.
Stakeholder collaboration and strategic roadmapping
The project aims to develop a technical configuration for a digital oil spill response solution and define a service concept that integrates new data sources and data types generated by the USVs. The service solution will be developed in close collaboration with end users to ensure its practical applicability and operational value.
To support the adoption of project results and the future scaling of the service concept, the lead partner Kotka Maritime Research Centre will facilitate the development of a strategic roadmap for wider implementation and uptake.
DIGIMARIS is a Finnish-Estonian cooperation project funded by the Interreg Central Baltic Programme. Launched in August 2025, the project aims to enhance cross-border oil spill response preparedness in the Gulf of Finland. As part of the project, unmanned surface vessels (USVs) equipped with pollution detection sensors are being developed to support oil spill monitoring and response operations, either independently or alongside larger response assets. The project is led by Kotka Maritime Research Centre in partnership with the Estonian State Fleet, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Xamk, Kymenlaakso Rescue Department, and TalTech Estonian Maritime Academy.
