International organizations and networks

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) – a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) – the main European trade association for the chemical industry. Cefic represents 29,000 large, medium and small chemical companies in Europe, interacting on behalf of their members with international and EU institutions, non-governmental organizations, the international media, and other stakeholders.

Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (CEDRE) – a non-profit association created on 25 January 1979 as part of the measures taken in the aftermath of the Amoco Cadiz oil spill. Cedre provides advice and expertise in the management of accidental water pollution. Cedre is available around the clock to offer authorities and industry technical and scientific assistance either remotely, within incident command centres or in the field.

European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) – one of the EU’s decentralized agencies. Based in Lisbon, the Agency provides technical assistance and support to the European Commission and Member States in the development and implementation of EU legislation on maritime safety, pollution by ships and maritime security. It has also been given operational tasks in the field of oil pollution response, vessel monitoring and long-range identification and tracking of vessels.

The Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) – an advisory body, established in 1969, that advises the United Nations (UN) system on the scientific aspects of marine environmental protection. GESAMP’s functions are to conduct and support marine environmental assessments, to undertake in-depth studies, analyses, and reviews of specific topics, and to identify emerging issues regarding the state of the marine environment.