EMSA Participates in Breeze 2024 Operational Exercise in Bulgaria

On July 12, in the vicinity of Burgas, Bulgaria, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) took part in the Breeze 2024 operational exercise. The event, organized by the Bulgarian Navy in collaboration with the Bulgarian Maritime Administration, was attended by the President of Bulgaria.

For the exercise, EMSA mobilized the stand-by oil spill recovery vessel Galaxy Eco, stationed in Varna, Bulgaria. The vessel simulated oil spill recovery operations by deploying its sweeping arms and demonstrated its at-sea dispersant spraying capabilities. The onboard Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) streamed live video and data to an observation vessel, providing real-time monitoring of the exercise.

Additionally, EMSA deployed the high-speed oil containment and recovery system Current Buster 4 from its Equipment Assistance Service (EAS) stockpile in Varna. This system was effectively utilized at sea by the exercise organizers, showcasing its capabilities in oil spill response.

Breeze 2024 provided an important opportunity for EMSA and Bulgarian maritime authorities to collaborate and enhance their preparedness for oil spill incidents, demonstrating advanced recovery and containment technologies in action.