Safety procedures
If you spot pollutants in the water, adopt the following procedures:
- call 1 1 2 and contact the Coast Guard by radio (distress frequency VHF channel 16) providing the requested information, including: location of polluted area (open sea, port water area, quay, jetty, sandy shore), distance from the coast/shore, type of pollution (hydrocarbons, sewage, etc.), consistency (dense patch, surface iridescence, streaking), colour, odour (benzene, sewage, pungent, suffocating, odourless), estimated surface area covered (size, diameter, length, width, thickness), causes and conditions (accidental, with malicious intent), identity of those responsible or possible origin (spill from boat, leak from pipeline, patch swept away by the current, etc.), name of boat(s), etc.;
- communicate any anti-pollution equipment available (floating booms, oil-absorbent sheets, etc.);
- takes photographs/make videos to be shared with the personnel in charge of the intervention;
- follow the instructions of rescuers and specialized personnel.
