CALYPSO-HF Radar Monitoring System and Response against Marine Oil Spills in the Malta Channel

Programme 2007 - 2013 Italy - Malta (IT-MT)

Date of latest update: 2022-03-29

Description

Description (IT):

Il progetto proposto, coinvolgendo un partenariato di 8 membri, propone la messa a punto un sistema stabile ed operativo per il monitoraggio di correnti, vento ed onde marine nel canale maltese mediante l’uso di un sistema di osservazione remota basata su una rete di HF (High Frequency) radars in grado di fornire dati in continuo (con frequenza temporale oraria). Il sistema prevede l’istallazione di HF radars su siti opportunamente selezionati sia nella parte nord dell’isola di Malta sia nella parte sud della costa siciliana; si prevede l’uso combinato di HF radars e stazioni di elaborazione per la distribuzione delle mappe fornite dal sistema. I dati raccolti, combinati con metodi di modellazione numerica, saranno di supporto per l’ottimizzazione degli interventi in caso di eventi di sversamenti di idrocarburi. Inoltre, tale sistema può considerarsi uno strumento utile di supporto alla navigazione provvedento una migliore previsione sulle correnti e garantendo il monitoraggio di correnti in aree critiche a supporto della sorveglianza, della ricerca e recupero di natanti e, inoltre, per la migliore gestione dello spazio marino nel canale Sicilia-Malta. Grazie ad una rete di soggetti interessati, includendo le autorità pubbliche inserite nel partenariato, il progetto prevede il massimo e completo sfruttamento della rete di HF radars anche attraverso azioni dedicate allo scambio di informazioni e la messa a punto di protocolli per migliorare la capacità di intevento e di sorveglianza coordinata fra le autorità maltesi e siciliane nel caso di eventuali incidenti e/o emergenze. Il sistema proposto si propone come strumento utile alla costruzione di una nuova capacità di controllo sui mari e sulle sue risorse costiere. A regime, l’acquisizione in continuo di dati spazialmente distribuiti e di interesse multi-disciplinare, insieme a dati a lungo termine sugli oceani e sulle aree costiere, porterà ad un netto miglioramento della conoscenza del canale Sicilia-Malta; ciò anche garantendo la base di dati necessaria ad applicazioni differenti. Il progetto, infine, fa della regione Sicilia e dello stato di Malta due poli d’avanguardia nel Mediterraneo nella tematica del monitoraggio ambientale in ambito marino e costiero.

Description (EN):

The project brings together an 8-member partnership for the setting up of a permanent and fully operational HF radar observing system, capable of recording (in real-time with hourly updates) surface currents, winds and waves in the Malta Channel. The system consists of HF radar installations on the northern Malta and southern Sicilian shores at selected sites and combines stations to elaborate and publish data to users. Collected data, combined to numerical models, support applications to optimise intervention in case of oil spill response as well as endow tools for security, safer navigation, improved metro-marine forecasts, monitoring of currents in critical areas such as ports, surveillance, search and rescue and better management of the marine space between Malta and Sicily. Through a network of stakeholders, including the participation of public authorities in the partnership, the project envisages the full exploitation of the HF radar system, and dedicates direct activities for the exchange of information, practices and the preparation of common protocols for collaborative surveillance and operational interventions in the case of accidents and emergencies between Maltese and Sicilian counterparts. The project shall also serve for capacity building in the monitoring of the coastal seas and adjoining resources. The routine acquisition of multi-disciplinary, spatially widespread, long-term data sets of the ocean and coastal seas is expected to trigger an unprecedented leap in the economic value of ocean data and information, and will additionally target multiple applications and users. The project puts Malta and Silicy at the forefront of such initiatives in the Mediterranean.

Achievements (EN):

The project has set up a permanent operational system to monitor surface marine currents and waves in the Sicilian-Maltese channel through the use of a remote observation system based on a network of HF (High Frequency) radar able to publish maps with hourly updates. The partnership has installed three HF radars: two in the northern part of Malta and one on the southern Sicilian coast. The data fl ows into a teleprocessing station that also distributes via web the maps supplied by the system. The collected data, combined with numerical modelling methods, support intervention by the pertinent authorities in the event of oil spills at sea. Furthermore, the system developed by CALYPSO represents a useful navigation support tool in that it provides better understanding of the sea currents and guarantees the monitoring and surveillance of such in critical areas. Thanks to a broad base of stakeholders, the project guarantees the fullest exploitation of the HF radar network including dedicated actions for the exchange of information and the preparation of protocols to improve the coordinated intervention and surveillance capacity of the Maltese and Sicilian authorities in the event of accident and/or emergency. The CALYPSO system, thanks to its cutting-edge technological equipment and the broad base of stakeholders involved and/or ready to take part, presents itself as a useful tool in the new, joint capacity of control over the seas by the Sicilian and Maltese authorities. When fully operational, the acquisition of multi-disciplinary data over a wide area will trigger a better understanding of the physical dynamics of the Sicily-Malta channel, thus guaranteeing the necessary data base for diverse applications. • 3 HF radars monitoring surface currents and waves in the Sicilian Channel • 3 radial data acquisition and computing stations • 1 combined computing station for radial data

Website: http://www.italiamalta.eu/

Thematic information

Coastal management and maritime issues Managing natural and man-made threats, risk management Waste and pollution

Partners (8)

Lead Partner: University of Malta

Address: MSD 2080 Msida, Malta

Legal status: n/a

ARMED FORCES OF MALTA

Name: ARMED FORCES OF MALTA

Address: Headquarters Armed Forces of Malta Luqa Barracks Luqa, VLT2000 Valletta, Malta

Legal status: n/a

TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

Name: TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

Address: Authority for Transport in Malta Xatt l-Ghassara tal-Gheneb , MRS1917 Marsa, Malta

Legal status: n/a

CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT

Name: CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT

Address: Ta’ Kandja, L/O Siggiewi, VLT2000 Valletta, Malta

Legal status: n/a

ARPA Sicilia - Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente

Name: ARPA Sicilia - Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente

Address: C.SO CALATAFIMI 219, 90129 Palermo, Italy

Legal status: n/a

Universitá delgi Studi di Catania – Cento Universitario per la Tutela e Gestione delgi Ambienti Naturali e degli Agro-ecosistemi (CUTGANA).

Name: Universitá delgi Studi di Catania – Cento Universitario per la Tutela e Gestione delgi Ambienti Naturali e degli Agro-ecosistemi (CUTGANA).

Address: Via Terzora, 8, 95027 S. Gregorio di Catania, Italy

Legal status: n/a

Università degli Studi di Palermo – Polo Universitario di Trapani (UNIPA)

Name: Università degli Studi di Palermo – Polo Universitario di Trapani (UNIPA)

Address: Lungomare Dante Alighieri, 91016 Erice (TP), Italy

Legal status: n/a

Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero uos di Capo Granitola, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IAMC - CNR CAPO GRANITOLA)

Name: Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero uos di Capo Granitola, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IAMC - CNR CAPO GRANITOLA)

Address: Via del Faro 3, 91021 Granitola, Italy

Legal status: n/a

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Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): CALYPSO-HF Radar Monitoring System and Response against Marine Oil Spills in the Malta Channel

Project acronym: CALYPSO

Project start date: 2011-05-01

Project end date: 2013-04-01

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 455 399.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 152 089.15

Co-financing sources:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2007 - 2013 Italy - Malta (IT-MT)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2015-07-01

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

25 / 25 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

135 / 135 (100%)

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CALYPSO-HF Radar Monitoring System and Response against Marine Oil Spills in the Malta Channel

Description

Thematic information

Partners (8)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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