19/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 17 November, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) attributed two new contracts for sea oil recovery in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic. The contracts, for a total value of €8 million over three years, will allow a ship belonging to the Belgian shipowner Aegean Bunkers (tanker Sara) and a ship belonging to the Finnish shipowner Finstaship (tanker Kontio) to be transformed into anti-pollution ships. These should be operational during the second half of 2010 and operate from the British port of Portland and in the northern part of the Baltic Sea respectively. Once operational, this will bring to 16 the total number of anti-pollution vessels available in Europe. In line with Regulation 724/2004, EMSA is responsible for assisting member states in their response to pollution from vessels at sea. (A.By./transl.jl)