Specialized Training Program Shipwreck Response with Ecosystem and Biodiversity Protection Focus

This curriculum provides a structured, professional training framework designed to strengthen capacity for responding to shipwreck incidents while prioritizing the protection of marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Shipwrecks can result in complex pollution events, including oil spills, hazardous material release, and physical damage to sensitive marine habitats. Effective response requires coordinated action that integrates environmental risk assessment, operational efficiency, and ecological protection.

Comprising ten interrelated modules, the program covers the full shipwreck response cycle. It introduces participants to the environmental impacts of shipwrecks and builds advanced skills in risk assessment, environmental sensitivity mapping, and response planning. Participants learn how to design and implement environmentally responsible shipwreck response strategies, apply innovative monitoring and assessment technologies, and protect biodiversity during response operations.

Additional modules focus on health and safety, multi-stakeholder coordination, waste management and debris removal, and systematic post-incident reporting and evaluation. The curriculum also includes real-world case studies, such as the Vera Su shipwreck, and concludes with practical fieldwork and simulation-based training in realistic coastal environments.

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Assess environmental risks and sensitivities in shipwreck scenarios using advanced mapping and evaluation tools;
• Design and implement response strategies that minimize ecological damage and protect biodiversity;
• Apply innovative monitoring technologies and data-driven approaches to support decision-making;
• Coordinate effectively across agencies and stakeholders while maintaining high safety standards;
• Manage waste and debris responsibly in environmentally sensitive areas;
• Conduct systematic post-incident evaluations and integrate lessons learned into future planning.

Target Audience

• On-scene commanders and incident managers
• Environmental response teams
• Maritime incident management personnel
• Coastal and marine ecologists
• Engineers and technical advisors

Approximate Duration

• Theoretical training: 20–22 hours (delivered over multiple sessions)
• Practical fieldwork and simulations: 5-day intensive program
• Participants per session: 15–20