MANIFESTS Genius, 2024-2025

Shipping accidents involving noxious and potentially dangerous substances (HNS) that behave like gases or “evaporators” can present significant risks to the environment and public health, particularly in port areas or near the coastline.

The recent accident in the Jordanian port of Aqaba (June 2022 - Red Sea) where 13 people died following a toxic chlorine leak, illustrates the consequences that can result from such accidents. The same year, liquefied natural gas (LNG) leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022 generated bubbles on the sea surface of 200 to 1000 meters in diameter, with a risk of explosion requiring an exclusion zone of 9 kilometers. At the same time, as the maritime industry strives to reduce its emissions, alternative fuels such as ammonia, methanol and LNG are increasingly transported, either by bulk carrier or by gas pipeline.

All of these Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) can lead to the formation of toxic, flammable or explosive clouds in the event of accidental release. It’s therefore crucial to provide precise data on their behavior in natural conditions, as well as on their physical-chemical properties and their evaporation kinetics, which are essential for developing appropriate intervention strategies.

Furthermore, the impact of the slick and/or gas cloud formed can extend to several neighboring states. In such cases, harmonization of procedures and exchange of information become crucial to ensure an effective response. However, despite the progress made in modeling and data collection, there is still a need for guidance on how to convert data and prediction model results (e.g. evaporation kinetics, water table drift on the surface, etc.) into standardized and relevant information that can be easily shared with response teams.

Based on the success of the MANIFESTS project, MANIFESTS Genius aims to improve crisis management and strengthen preparation and response capacities for accidents involving HNS spills, likely to lead to the formation of gaseous and toxic clouds. Emphasis will be placed on releases of volatile chemicals (e.g. cyclohexane), but also on alternative fuels such as ammonia, methanol and LNG.

The objectives of the project are:

• 1. Experimentally assess the behavior and impact of volatile and gaseous HNS in coastal waters according to 2 spill scenarios: one on the surface and the other in the subsurface.
• 2. Provide information to help stakeholders develop effective emergency plans and response protocols for sites equipped with transportation pipelines or refrigeration systems based on anhydrous ammonia as well as LNG.
• 3. Improve the exchange of information between the authorities responsible for marine pollution and the response groups of the different agencies/bodies with responsibilities during an incident near the coast, in order to facilitate the coordination of land and maritime intervention.
• 4. Share knowledge and train the authority in charge of the response in the use of decision support tools developed within the framework of MANIFESTS Genius and other previous national and European projects.

In addition to coordinating the project, Cedre will be mainly responsible for experimental studies of evaporation processes, rise in the water column and the behavior of several chemicals as well as updating the HNS database. He will also be in charge of organizing 3 international workshops for stakeholders of the Bonn Agreement, HELCOM and REMPEC for training operational staff in the use of existing decision support tools.

The project partnership involves 6 research institutes and administrations from 5 countries (Belgium, Spain, France, Portugal, United Kingdom). The Consortium will rely on the advice of an Advisory Board made up of maritime and civil protection authorities from each participating State.