The European Research Project ARGOMARINE ‘Automatic Oil-Spill Recognition and Geopositioning integrated in a Marine Monitoring Network’ is supported and funded by the European Commission under the Transport Theme of the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. For the implementation of the project (2009 – 2012) 9 distinguished Scientific Partners collaborate from 4 European countries and International organizations including the National Marine Park of Zakynthos (N.M.P.Z.),
The goal of the project is to develop an Integrated System for Monitoring Marine Traffic and Early Warning of Marine Pollution Events for reducing the environmental impact, particularly in sensitive marine areas (Marine Protected Areas - MPAs) in the Mediterranean.
The development of an Integrated System for Monitoring Marine Traffic and Early Warning of Marine Pollution Events under the Programme aims to ensure :
- The reliable detection of accidents / incidents of marine pollution.
- Ship traffic monitoring, especially in areas with high marine traffic density and high risk of pollution.
- Early warning and emergency interventions of local authorities, services and environmental control agencies.
- The effective coordination of actions and operations, which are required for the protection of marine, coastal and insular environment.
- The support of decision-making centers in planning and conducting preventive, timely and emergency interventions.
- The low cost of preventing marine accidents / marine pollution events, in contrast to the high cost of treatment and rehabilitation.
- The reduction of the environmental impact, particularly in sensitive sea areas.